164 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



formed, from one-fourth to one- half of an inch in length, 

 and cover the entire bed, where they can be easily detected 

 by their constant motion. After hatching, the young fry 

 remain over the bed from two to seven days, usually three 

 or four, when they retire into deep water, or take refuge 

 in the weeds, or under stones, logs, and other hiding-places. 



During the period of incubation the nests are carefully 

 guarded by the parent fish, who remain over them, and by 

 a constant motion of the fins, create a current which keeps 

 the eggs free from all sediment and debris. After the 

 eggs are hatched, and while the young remain on the nests, 

 the vigilance of the parent fish becomes increased and un- 

 ceasing, and all suspicious and predatory intruders are 

 driven away. 



Their anxiety and solicitude for their eggs and young, 

 and their apparent disregard of their own safety at this 

 time, is well-known to poachers and pot-fishers, who take 

 advantage of this trait and spear or gig them on their 

 nests. I have known, also, some who call themselves 

 anglers Heaven save the mark! who take the Bass at 

 this time in large numbers, with the minnow or crawfish. 

 Of course the Bass do not " bite " at this season, volun- 

 tarily, but when the bait is persistently held under their 

 noses, they at first endeavor to drive it away or remove it 

 from the nests, and finally, I think, swallow it in sheer 

 desperation. 



FOOD AND GROWTH. 



After the young Bass leave the spawning beds their 

 food at first consists of animalculse, larvae, insects, and the 

 ova of other fish ; as they grow older and larger they de- 

 vour worms, tadpoles, small fish, etc.; and, in later life, 



