THE HABITS OF THE BLACK BASS 



FEW fish thrive in such extremes of* tem- 

 perature as the black bass, but sudden 

 changes are apt to be fatal to both 

 species. The large-mouth will live in 

 conditions of water, under high temperature and 

 in stagnant ponds, which ordinarily would be death 

 to aU other forms of aquatic life except that of 

 the lowest order. Yet with this fact before them 

 there are some people — anglers, forsooth — wha 

 insist that in point of gameness and as a food- 

 fish the big- jawed feUow is equal to the acrobatic 

 smaU-mouth in running water! 



Reproduction 



The black bass is endowed with an emotional 

 quality which very closely approaches parental 

 aflfection. While the salmon, the trout, and other 

 sahnonids, as weU as most other fishes, leave their 

 eggs, as soon as deposited!, to the ravages of the 

 minnow, eel, catfish, and other ravenous spawn- 

 eaters, the parent bass guards the nest with vigi- 

 lance, and, when the young are hatched, hovers 



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