Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-26
BLACK BASS ONE
OF GAMEST FISH
His Fighting Spirit Makes him
Popular With All Real
Fishermen.
RY GEORGE Z. Case.

Before We start out to take Mr. Black
Bas, INTO camp. LEI us study some ol ms
habits and characteristics.
The black bass -(both large and small
mouthl Is as Dr Hcnshail often said
inch for inch and pound for pound the
parcst fSh that swimS This too is the
consensus of opinion OF all spoltsmen
anglers who are friends OF his warrior
al the lakes and streams. Tie Is popular
not oniv for his gamencss hat because he
can bc taken with bait, flies and countless
lurc~ This popularity VIII last Tor All
time He Is one OF the gamlcst hsh
IN our waters aud viii cause more thrillS
than any other FISH When hooked she
Is sure To put up battle worth Whilc.
The black bass, whether 1t Is the large
or small mouth. always spawn during
the period from Nav IL to June L. or 20.
Ii generally takes about ten days for the
cgrS to hatch after being deposited on the
nest and another ten days for the young
hsh to rise from the nest The parental
instinct of the bass Is interesting. Both
male and female viii fight tcroeiouSlN,
ANYTHING tsat comes near, II Is TINS
characteristic fighting spirit which some
so-called sportsmen take advantage oi.
IN states where the law permits hshing
IN Nav and early June, by taking As
MANY bass off the nests as.the law allows.
They care nothing for the wllliul waste
in catching bass of the nests and destroy
INC them at the very time when the
natural reproduction Of tho fish IS taking
place.
When the parent bass are off the nest
or towering near the Young they VIII
strike Mt anything that comes ne.r.
They fear instinctlyelv that 1t Is gong TO
harm the eggs or the young hsh. No
true sportsman viii fish IN any part 0l =
lake which he knows IS the breeding
grounds OF the black bass during spawn
ing season.
The large mouth bass spawn IN bays
and shallow places where there are water
hlv pads, logs or stumpS, place where
thew seem TO feel that the nests are pro-
tecfed from danger The black bass is
very prolific breeder, not il the number
of eggs deposited bat III he production
OF Young This IS because Of the never
ending diligence of the parent fish IN
protect ing lie eggs and Young fish. When
the frv have raised from the nest the
parent fish viii lead hem of into the weeds
and mos, where they mat tnd protection
and hiding places from larger fish. ne
bass Is not unlike other fish in regards 20
eating its own KIND.
THE SNAIL. MOUTH RAs@.
The small mouth bass seeks ont gravel
reefs and sand bars 10 deposit ltS eggs.
The nests can often be readily seen from
a boat. The angler can get much pleasure
and knowledge in observing the fish 81
TIN, time 1t Is Interesting try 1t. The
nests Of the bass ire moi 80 numerous and
he sportsman should avoid casting oveT
thesc natural resting places and should
ne hook ore during the spawning season.
il i his duty "a more fish and better
fishing" to immediately return il to the
water-fr-t carefully wetting his hands
before removing the hook thus saving
from two to twenty thousand black bass,
vhich ran he tished for some other tlme
The Young FRY feed on cru~taccans and
laryal forms OF insects. They are quite
rapid growers. beng about Six inches
III length the first fal ana they viii In
crease about q pound wear under favor
able conditions until they weigh about
FIVE pounds In some instances. however,
where the conditions arc unusually favor
able. they reach a weight q seven and
eight pounds.
The small mouth bass has been intro
duccd into nearly every State. j he
range Of distribution lS 80 extensive and
the waters il Is found III - different. the
coloration Of the small mouth bass varies
from nearly black to beautiful green
bronze. The coloration sometimes differs
in the same waters, caused by the char
acter Of the bottom and the absence OF
weeds. The general color Is green. dark
on the back and fading q white on the
belly There is something vertical mark.
ing, bar like, with three bronze streaks
across the checks. These markings dis
appear with age.
The large mouth bass il fellow with
many aliases such u '0Swego Bass,
Green Bass. Big Mouth and sometime
IN the south he IS called Trout The
large mouth Is somewhat sInslar IN ap
pearance 10 the small mouth. lie j. not
built 50 racv. ms mouth is larger, as ar'
ms scales The large mouth bass is more
stockv and has broader and more power
ful tail The "oloration is often the same
as that OF the small mouth bgt usually
darker. The markings are horlzonta
streaks Of black and not vertical as n th'
small mouth.