SIXTY-TWO SPECIES OF FISHES FROM LAKE ERIE 
381 
75.0-millimeter stage . — Total length, 75.0; standard length, 70.0; length of head, 
28.0; greatest depth, 19.5; diameter of eye, 4.8 millimeters. Body elongate; mouth 
very large, oblique, maxilla to back of eye; lower jaw projecting; deep notch between 
dorsals. Dorsal X, 13; anal III, 11. 
Pigmentation. — The 75-millimeter fish is slightly greenish above and silvery 
below. A broad, very dark lateral band extends in mid-line of body from behind 
head to caudal. Three oblique stripes are apparent across cheek and opercles behind 
eye. Very small black chromatophores are abundant on top and sides of body, 
darker and more numerous above lateral band, and arranged more heavily on outline 
of scales. The belly is white. All fins except ventrals are sprinkled with chromato- 
phores. 
BREEDING 
The largemouth bass spawns during the period from early April to July. The 
nesting habits are similar to those of Micropterus, and the adhesive eggs are attached 
to stones. Incubation takes from one to two weeks, depending upon temperature, 
and the larvae remain in the nest after hatching for upward of two weeks. At that 
age they are about 15 to 19 millimeters long. 
50. Eupomotis gibbosus (Linnaeus). Common sunfish; pumpkinseed. 
RECORD OF CAPTURE 
The sunfish is found always in weedy places, whether it be along the lake shore or 
in the streams and ponds adjoining. It is one of the commoner species of the region. 
DESCRIPTION 
The chubby shape easily identifies these young fishes as sunfish, and the small 
mouth, scarcely produced operculum, caudal vertebrae numbering 18, and anal spines 
only 3, distinguish the common sunfish or pumpkinseed from others. 
Egg . — The eggs are about 1 millimeter in diameter, demersal, adhering to vege- 
tation or rocks on the bottom. 
18.5-millimeter stage . — Total length, 18.5; standard length, 14.5; length to vent, 
7.6; length of head, 4.52; snout, 1.1; diameter of eye, 1.5; greatest depth before vent, 
4.4 ; depth behind vent, 3.7 ; length to dorsal, 5.8 ; to anal, 8.0 millimeters. Myomeres, 
10 to vent plus 18 behind. Dorsal X, 12 ; anal III, 10. Body ovate, very compressed; 
