348 



REPORT OF THE 



coloration. On account of their habit of swimming at or near the surface, they are 

 a particularly desirable lure for both species of Black Bass at times when they are 

 feeding at the surface. As a matter of fact, there are seasons or days, as every 

 observant angler well knows, in the life of every species of fresh-water game-fish 

 when it comes to the surface to feed, and then is when the Grayback shows up to 

 great advantage, whether used in casting, trolling, or still-fishing. 



Head 4 ; depth 4^ to 5 ; eye large, 3^; D. 13 ; A. 1 1 ; scales 45,-15. 



Body rather slender, not elevated, compressed posteriorly ; head moderate, quite 

 flat above ; teeth pointed, the outer row not much enlarged ; fins not large, the 



GRAYBACK; FEMALE. 



dorsal and anal rather low: ventrals scarcely reaching vent in females, somewhat 

 longer in males. General color, olivaceous, sides silvery; female with about 15 or 20 

 dark vertical bars, shorter than the silvery bars of the male, the interspaces pale ; 

 back sometimes spotted ; young always with black bars ; fins nearly plain. 



In the western part of its range (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin) speci- 

 mens differ somewhat from those further east and are recognized as a distinct 

 subspecies, — Fundiilus diaphaniis vicnona (Jordan & Copeland). 



N3Kipj^C^K; — Labidesthcs sicciiliis (Cope). 



The Skipjack belongs to the Atherinidcs or Silverside family, — a large family 

 with many species, all of which except the Skipjack are inhabitants of salt water. 



The Skipjack is a beautiful and curious little fish, found from Lake Ontario 

 southward to Florida and west to Minnesota and Missouri. It is essentially an 

 inhabitant of sluggish streams, ponds and lakes, and is locally very abundant. In 

 the small lakes of northern Indiana it is exceedingly abundant. It goes in large 

 schools which, during the summer, may be seen swimming at the surface out in the 



