FISHERIES OF LAKE ONTARIO. 
209 
The sauger (8. canadense) has always been more or less uncommon in Lake Ontario, 
and now appears to be less numerous than ever before. The few specimens taken of 
late have been mostly from Chaumont Bay. The sauger occurring in the lake and the 
St. Lawrence Biver differs considerably from the fish found in the other lakes, and is 
regarded as a distinct variety, chiefly characterized by a rougher head more exten- 
sively and closely covered with scales, and an increased number of spines on the oper 
cles. At Oswego the name “mad pike” was heard applied to the sauger. 
THE STRAWBERRY BASS OR CALICO BASS. 
From the various standpoints of angler, commercial fisherman, and fish-culturist, 
the strawberry bass ( Pomoxis sparoides) is one of the most valuable and least appreci- 
ated fishes of Lake Ontario. In Lake Erie, under the name grass bass, the fish is an 
important food species, but in Lake Ontario it is not of economic value at the present 
time. It occurs chiefly in the bays, ponds, and bayous with grassy shores connected 
with or adjacent to the lake, and seems to be especially abundant in Irondequoit Bay, 
Monroe County. As long ago as 1874, the late Prof. Kirtland accorded high praise to 
the strawberry bass, and his testimony, being in great measure applicable to the pres- 
ent time, deserves careful consideration. He says : 
The grass bass has not hitherto been deemed worthy of consideration by fish-culturists; yet, from 
a long and intimate acquaintance with its merits, I hesitate not to pronounce it the fish for the million. 
It is a native of our western rivers and lakes, where it usually resorts to deep and sluggish waters ; yet in 
several instances, where it has found its way into cold and rapid streams and even small-sized brooks, 
by means of the constructing of canals or by the hand of man, it has adapted itself to the change, and 
in two or three years stocked to overflowing these new locations. As a pan fish, for the table, it is 
surpassed by few other fresh-water species. For endurance and rapidity of increase it is unequaled. 
The grass bass is perfectly adapted to stocking ponds. It will thrive without care in very small ponds 
of sufficient depth. It will in no wise interfere with the cultivation of any number of species, large or 
small, in the same waters. It will live harmoniously with all others, and while its structure and dis- 
position restrain it from attacking any other but very small fry, its formidable armature of spinous 
rays in the dorsal and abdominal fins will guard it against attacks of even the voracious pike. (Ameri- 
can Sportsman, February 28, 1874.) 
The strawberry bass of Lake Ontario is a flue fisb, weighing from a half pound 
to 2 pounds. As a fish for anglers, it has few superiors in the lake region, being a 
vigorous and prompt biter and a scarcely inferior substitute for the black bass. In 
1890 two anglers in Irondequoit Bay took 120 of these fish during part of one day, a 
circumstance which illustrates the abundance of the species and the readiness with 
which it takes the hook. Without any apparent encouragement the fish has greatly 
increased in several localities of late years, and the facility with which it can be 
propagated and acclimated in ponds and bays along the shores of Lake Ontario 
strongly recommends it for additional attention by fish-culturists. 
F. C. B. 1890—14 
