4.-AN AMERICAN FISH IN FINLAND.* 
By OSCAR NORDQVIST. 
Inspector of Fisheries, Helsingfors, Finland. 
One of the most highly esteemed fishes in hlorth America is the so-called black 
bass, which designation includes two distinct species, namely Micropterus salmoides 
and M. dolomieti. The former, in northern localities, grows to a weight of 6 to 8 
pounds, but in southern regions reaches 20 to 25 pounds. The latter species usually 
weighs only 2^- to 3 pounds, but in exceptional cases reaches 8 pounds, and somewhat 
more. Both species are distinguished for their firm and savory flesh, and are also 
highly prized as game fish, which take the fly like salmon and trout. They were 
introduced ten years ago by the well-kuown flsh-culturist, Max von dem Borne, into 
Germany, where they are kept in ponds. In Germany the larger species has been 
called trout bass and trout perch, and the smaller species black bass and black 
perch, which names have been employed also in the Swedish fish literature. The 
more rapid-growing trout bass, which thrives in ponds and lakes, has especially been 
distributed in Germany. 
Since the black bass, as appears from the foregoing, is a very valuable fish, 
I thought it worth the trouble to attempt to introduce it into Finland, and there- 
fore ordered 400 of each kind from Max von dem Borne for the Evois Fishery 
Experiment Station. I was, however, able to obtain only the trout bass. These were 
shipj)ed from Berneuehen (near Kustriu, in Prussia) Tuesday afternoon or Wednes- 
day morning, left Stettin Wednesday noon by the steamer JaJcohstad, and arrived 
Friday night at 11 o’clock at Helsingfors. When they were examined Saturday 
morning 59 fish were found dead. From Helsingfors the remaining trout bass were 
transported to Jarvela (four hours’ railroad journey), and from there over 50 kilo- 
meters by team to Evois, where, upon arrival at 2 o’clock Sunday morning, they 
were deposited in a little lake. During the trip from Helsingfors to Evois only 19 
fish died. Therefore, of the entire 400 which were shipped- from Germany, 322 were 
planted. Of these fish, which were only six months old, some were 4 to 4f inches 
long. They were put up in four lots in locked wooden vessels, 100 in each vessel. 
From Berneuehen to Helsingfors they received no special attention. In Helsingfors 
and on the way from Helsingfors to Jarvela air was pumped into the water, and on 
the journey from Jarvela to Evois fresh water was introduced at several stations from 
brooks and lakes on the route to replace the water which was spilled in transportation. 
*En amerikansk flskart i Finland: Fiskeritidskrift for Finland, etc., No. 11, 1893, pages 161-162. 
Translated by Tarleton H. Bean. 
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