362 
of the 17 lakes the white crappies were 
stunted. Fourteen of the lakes contained 
black crappies as well as white. In all but 
two, the white crappies were more numer- 
ous. 
In one lake where the white crappies 
were of good size (and amounted to 28 
per cent of the weight of the population), 
they were associated with largemouth bass, 
warmouth bass and bluegills. ‘The most 
pronounced stunting of white crappies oc- 
curred in shallow muddy lakes, where 
they were associated with large numbers 
ot rough fish. In general, white crappies 
do well with other centrarchids, but must 
be thinned at frequent intervals to prevent 
stunting. 
Black Crappie 
Pomoxis nigro-maculatus (Le Sueur) 
Although black crappies were present in 
17 of the 22 lakes, they were usually less 
numerous than the white and of larger 
average size. Stunting was common, due 
to overpopulation and to competition with 
rough fish. Reproduction in the black 
crappie seems to be somewhat less success- 
ful than in the white. 
lake mentioned in connection with the 
largemouth bass, the population of black 
crappies had been greatly reduced in num- 
ber by two seasons of intensive hook-and- 
line fishing. In an underfished lake, a 
badly stunted population of black crappies 
made up nearly 25 per cent of the total 
population. Here they were associated 
with white crappies, bluegills, green sun- 
fish and bullheads. In the lake containing 
the second largest population of black 
crappies, this species represented only 
about 6 per cent of the total weight of 
fish, and in other lakes it constituted only 
a small fraction of the total populations 
(4.4 per cent or less). 
Bluegill 
Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque 
The bluegill is the most common as well 
as one of the best fishes for artificial lakes. 
It was present in 20 of the 22 lakes cen- 
sused. Associated with other centrarchids, 
it sometimes makes up as much as half of 
the population. It stands up under heavy 
fishing better than any other fish and pro- 
duces more fish of desirable size than other 
ILLtno1s NATURAL History SURVEY BULLETIN 
In the overfished - 
a1. 22; Arta 3 
sunfish. However, because it reproduces in 
such tremendous numbers, underfishing al- 
lows it to become stunted in many waters. 
In six lakes, bluegills made up from 20 to 
53 per cent of the weight. Smaller per- 
centages of bluegills were associated with 
large populations of rough fish, forage fish - 
and bullheads. Stunting was common un- 
der these conditions. 
Warmouth Bass 
Chaenobryttus gulosus (Cuvier) 
The warmouth, present in 13 of the 22 
lakes, is much less desirable than the blue- 
gill. By weight it never represented more 
than 11 per cent of any population and 
usually much less. This species shows a 
wide range of sizes among individuals be- 
longing to a single brood, a peculiarity sim- 
ilar to that found in the largemouth bass. 
In most lakes, only a small number of fish 
were large enough to interest fishermen, 
while the greater number were small. ‘The 
ratio was about one or two large fish to 
several hundred small ones. For all prac- 
tical purposes the warmouth bass adds 
little to the fish populations of artificial 
lakes in Illinois. 
Green Sunfish 
Lepomis cyanellus Rafinesque 
The green sunfish, found in 21 of the 22 
lakes, is the species most frequently intro- 
duced into lakes from small streams. In 
lakes it multiplies very successfully, but 
seldom produces fish of desirable size. In 
four newly constructed and improperly 
stocked lakes, it made up from 5 to 57 
per cent of the fish populations. The en- 
tire populations of many lakes did not 
include any green sunfish large enough for 
angling. The green sunfish must be con- 
sidered detrimental in artificial lakes, be- 
cause it competes with more desirable fish 
and usually does not reach an attractive 
size itself. This voracious fish remains 
close to shore and makes bank fishing for 
more desirable kinds difficult. 
Pumpkinseed Sunfish 
Lepomis gibbosus (Linnaeus) 
The pumpkinseed was found in only 5 
of the 22 lakes. It was never numerous 
and rarely of good size. Although some- 
