THE HABITS AND CULTURE OF THE BLACK BASS.' 
By DWIGHT EYDELL. 
This paper sets forth the experiences of nine seasons, beginning with 1894, 
during which I have had charge of the black-bass work of the Michigan Fish Com- 
mission. The work was begun at Cascade, Mich., and after four seasons was 
transferred to Mill Creek, where it is now carried on. The methods of pond culture 
finally adopted are based on a knowledge of the breeding habits of the fish under 
natural conditions. The account has reference to the small-mouthed bass, unless 
the large-mouthed is specified. 
In studying the habits of the bass, it is necessary to distinguish the males from 
the females; ordinarily this is not possible except by dissection, but at spawning 
time the female is distinguishable, even at a distance of 10 or 20 feet, on account of 
her distension witli eggs, and this makes it possible to determine the part taken by 
eaclx sex in nest-building and the rearing of young. 
The nests of the black bass are built by the male fish working alone. The 
small-mouthed bass prefers a bottom of mixed sand and gravel, in which the stone 
ranges from about the size of a pea to that of one’s fist. As the spawning season 
approaches the males are seen moving about in water of 2 or 3 feet depth seeking a 
suitable resting-place. Eacli male tests the bottom in several places by rooting into 
it with his snout and fanning away the overlying mud or sand with his tail. If he 
does not find gravel after going down 3 or 4 inches, he seeks another place. Having 
found a suitable place, he cleans the sand and mud from the gravel by sweeping it 
with his tail. He then turns over the stones with his snout and continues sweeping 
until the gravel over a circular spot some 2 feet in diameter is clean. The sand is 
swept toward the edge of the nest and there forms a few inches high, leaving the 
center of the nest concave like a saucer. The nest is usually located near a log or 
large rock so as to be shielded from one side. If the bank is sheer and the water 
deep enough, the nest may be built directly against the bank. If possible, it is 
placed so that the fish can reach deep water quickly at any time. 
During nest-building no females are in sight, but when the nest is done — and 
this takes from 4 to 48 hours — the male goes out into deep water and soon returns 
with a female. Then for a time— it may be for several hours — the male exerts 
himself to get the female into the nest and to bring her into that state of excitement 
in which she will lay her eggs. If she lies quiet, he turns on his side and passes 
beneath her in such a way as to stroke her belly in passing. If she delays too long, 
he urges her ahead by biting her on the head or near the vent. If she attempts to 
escape, he heads her off and turns her back toward the nest. If, after all, she will 
not stay in the nest, he drives her roughly away and brings another female. 
a Read at the thirty -first annual meeting of the American Fisheries Society. 
39 
