THE LARGE-MOUTHED BLACK BASS IN UTAH. 
By JOHN SHARP, 
State Fish and Game Warden. 
This excellent fish, was first introduced into Utah September 8, 1890, when a 
carload of black bass, red-eyed perch, crappies, and sunfish (many of them spawners) 
was received from the Illinois Eiver. About a fourth of these were put into the 
Weber River at Ogden and the remainder into Utah Lake. Of the lot planted in Utah 
Lake, 2,000 were large-mouthed black bass. Of those planted in the Weber River at 
Ogden little has been said or heard, but the Utah Lake fish have developed very 
satisfactorily. They were not allowed to be taken in any manner for three years 
after their introduction, and at the expiration of the legislative period of protection 
it was evident that the large mouthed bass had increased very rapidly and grown 
to a fairly good size. A few were taken in the fall of 1893, the largest weighing 3 
pounds, the average being about 1 pound. In 1894 they began to be taken regularly 
for domestic use and commercial purposes — about 30,000 pounds per annum being 
reported by the commercial fishermen and dealers — and, including those taken by 
sportsmen and others for family use, I believe I would be within conservative bounds 
in saying that Utah Lake has produced annually 40,000 pounds of Oswego bass since 
1894, without taking into consideration those taken for propagating purposes in this 
and neighboring States. I am told that they are increasing rapidly and that there 
are many millions in the lake. 
The annual growth of the largest specimens taken seems to be about 1 pound. 
The largest fish taken in 1895 weighed 4£ pounds. In 1896 the largest weighed 5§ 
pounds and was about 18 inches long. In 1897 the heaviest fish taken weighed 6J 
pounds and was about 19 inches in length. Rot having had any experience with this 
fish before its introduction here, the larger sizes seem to me to grow extremely stocky, 
their length not appearing to be more than about twice their depth. This is no doubt 
a ma' ked characteristic of the species where favorable conditions exist for its perfect 
growth and development. 
This Utah lake, which has proven to be such an excellent nursery for the Oswego 
bass, is situated near the center of the State and has an area of about 200 square 
miles, with an average depth of 10 to 15 feet, and lies at an altitude of 4,499 feet above 
mean sea level. The surface temperature of the water during the summer months I 
estimate will range from 60 to 65° F. I have not learned of any extended temperature 
tests of the water having been made to determine the average temperature. 
The lake has an approximate length of 20 miles north and south, with an average 
width of about 10 miles east and west, and is fed by a number of springs and mountain 
streams of varying size, with one of considerable volume, the Provo or Timpanogos 
River. The water running into the lake comes from streams draining from the Wasatch 
