Artificial Propagation of the Black Basses, Chappies, and Rock Bass
Artificial Propagation of the Black Basses, Chappies, and Rock Bass – The species treated of in this chapter are triose members of the Centrarchidae (or fresh-water sunfishes) which have come under the scope of Fish culture, namely, the large-mouth black bass {Micropterns sahnoides), the small-mouth black bass {Microptcrns dolomieu), the rock bass {Amhloplites riipestru), the crappie {Pomoxis annularis), and the calico bass {Pomoxis sparoides).
Whatever is said of the rock bass will apply equally well to other sunfishes, which might be here considered but which have not been artificially reared.
The principal physical characteristics of these fishes are indicated in the following key, which serves to distinguish the two species of black bass and the two species of crappie from each other as well as from less closely related species.
Large-mouth black bass: Body comparatively long, the depth about one-third the length; back little elevated; head large, 3 to 3; ^ in body; eye 5 to (3 in head; mouth very large, the maxillary in adults extending beyond eye, smaller in young.