CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 117 



Tizapan Mayor, under the same date as the above, report as follows : 



"I have the honor to inform you in accordance with the inquire contained in the 

 communication of that Superiority under tlie number 15006, issued by Section 4th 

 dated on the 15th inst. that on information collected from the fishermen within the 

 jurisdiction of this Municipality is not known the fish named LOBINA mentioned 

 in your said communication in any of the places where the fisheries are established." 



Ocotlan Mayor under same date report : 



"Relative to your attentive note No. 9510, issued by Section 4th dated the 12th 

 of November ultimo in which you transcribe me the communication dated on the 

 21st of October last from the Consul General of Mexico in San Francisco, Cali- 

 fornia, for the knowledge of the Governor of the State I have the honor to inform 

 you that the fish known by the name BLACK BASS (Lobina), delicious fish, to 

 which the preinserted note makes reference and known in all these places with the 

 name of (LIZA) has been propagated relatively little in the Lake of Chapala and 

 in a nearby place to El Fuerte, within the jurisdiction of this Municipality and in 

 which place about 15 fifteen years ago approximately this fish was placed for its 

 propagation but we have information that in the town of Poncitlan it is found 

 frequently in the dam and in the river passing by that place." 



Please to accept my attentive and distinguished considei'ation. 



The Constitutional Governor of the State. 



Guadalajara, Jalisco, December 23, 1921. 



The stated fact that black bass have not multiplied to any extent in 

 the lake for the principal reason that carp have destroyed the spawn, 

 is hardly plausible, for unless the Mexican species of carp is as aggres- 

 sive and courageous as the Mexican bull, this is not the reason for the 

 apparent lack of increase. Both the male and female black bas.s remain 

 with the eggs in the nest until they are hatched, and both remain with 

 the young fry afterwards. There is no American fish bold enough to 

 attack a black bass or its eggs. In lakes where bass only abound, neces- 

 sity compels the adult fish to devour its young, but Chapala has an 

 ideal food in the whitefish. We have made many plantings of bass and 

 have never seen a body of water having more of the requirements 

 necessary to the successful introduction of these fish than Lake Chapala. 



The black bass are the most difficult fish to catch with a net. They 

 require certain lures to take them, such as live minnows, spinners, etc. 

 In a body of water the size of Lake Chapala, containing all the natural 

 feed, these fish are doubtless difficult to capture. In spite of the fore- 

 going report, we feel positive they are present in large numbers and 

 can be taken by those who know how. 



