106 FISHES OF PENNSYLVANTA. 

Whether it is indigenous in Pennsylvania waters is uncertain. It has 
been introduced into some parts of Virginia, while in other portions of 
that state it is native. It is indigenous in North Carolina. Its distribu- 
tion in Pennsylvania has of late years been greatly extended through 
the efforts of the Fish Commission and it is now well established in the 
Delaware, especially in its upper waters. 
Under favorable circumstances as to water and food supply the rock 
bass grows to a length of fourteen inches and a weight of two pounds. 
It increases in depth and thickness with age. The largest example we 
have examined is one of two pounds weight, length fourteen inches, 
from the James river, Va., taken near Richmond. Dr. Wm. Overton 
reports that rock bass weighing three and three-fourths pounds have 
been taken in his vicinity at Stony Creek, Va. 
In February and March this fish frequents the mouths of small 
streams and in summer it seeks shady places under high banks or pro- 
jecting rocks. The species is gregarious, going in large schools. It 
thrives where there is not much current and is very well adapted for 
culture in artificial ponds. It is as common in lakes and ponds as in 
the streams. Sluggish, pure, dark water suits it best. 
The fishing season begins in June and lasts until the approach of cold 
weather. 
The rock bass feeds upon worms, crustaceans and larve of insects 
early in the season; later its food consists of minnows and crawfish. 
The young feed upon insects and their larve. 
The spawning season is May and June and gravelly shoals are resorted 
to for depositing the eggs. 
The rock bass bites very freely and is a fair game fish and excellent 
for the table. It fights vigorously, but its endurance is not great. 
Suitable baits are white grubs, crickets, grasshoppers, crawfish and 
small minnows. Common earthworms are also’successfully used. Dr. 
Henshall recommends for fly fishing a light trout fly rod of five or six 
ounces, light click reel, enamelled line, size G, and a fine trout leader. 
The flies he recommends are Montreal, ibis, soldier, professor, aureole 
and polka, also the brown, red and ginger hackles. He would tie them 
on drawn gut snells on No. 5 to 7 Sproat hooks. For bait fishing the 
Doctor recommends a light cane rod, ten feet long, weighing four or five 
ounces, with a No. 9 twisted silk line as long as the rod, a three-foot 
leader of the finest gut, No. 4 or 5 Sproat hooks tied on drawn gut and 
a quill float. In bait casting from a reel instead of the twisted silk line: 
he would substitute one of braided silk, size H. 
