/ This material from the IMOINATEM 12h1121 Department's official magazine N. Y. STATE CONSERVATION DEPT. - DIVISION OF CONSERVATION EDUCATION THE N. Y. STATE CONSERVATIONIST

BLUEGI LL, Lepomis macrochirus macrochirus (Rafinesque)

Some Pan Fishes of

REDBREAST SUNFISH, Lepomis auritus (Linnaeus) D-47 Some Pan Fishes of New York -Yellow Perch, White Perch, White Bass, Freshwater Drum by Edward C. Raney, Professor of Zoology, Department of Conservation, Cornell University

pan fish may be described as one reservoirs. Natural death rate may be large relatives which have canine teeth. that is easily caught and good from 25 to 40 per cent yearly in various The prominent black vertical bars on to eat. Such an informal classi- populations in nature. Generally, they the side and the slim body shape sepa- fication allows plenty of room are underutilized and should be fished rate it from the white perch and white for debate, but, unfortunately, not enough hard. bass. for thorough scientific description. Hence Both the yellow perch and the white The yellow perch is widely distributed in this article we must arbitrarily limit perch now are extending their range or in the North Temperate region from the discussion to the yellow and white have done so in the last 20 years. In the Lesser Slave Lake of the MacKenzie perches, the white bass and the fresh- right habitat they are both good fishes Basin and the Hudson Bay drainage of water drum, leaving the sunfishes and but when introduced may become over- Canada southward to South Carolina and other pan fishes to later articles. crowded and stunted. Under such con- west to Kansas. It has been introduced All four species are often important ditions they often cannot be controlled elsewhere, particularly in the West. commercial fishes, especially in Lake Erie naturally by larger predatory fishes. The It has not always been as widely dis- and Lake Ontario, where they reach a appearance of yellow perch in trout tributed in New York, although there is large size. All meet the first qualification ponds can be disastrous to the trout. and scarcely a major division of any river of being easily caught and several may has been in many parts of the Adiroe system that it does not now occupy. The be taken in large numbers at the right dacks. The other species do not do well yellow perch does well for a short time time. As food fishes they rank from ex- in small farm ponds. in upland ponds but gradually reduces cellent in the case of the yellow perch, Two types of life history are repre- the native populations of forage fish and to good in the white perch and white sented. The white perch is slow growing then in turn becomes stunted. often in- bass, to mediocre or poor with the fresh- and long-lived while the white bass is , fested with grub parasites, and usually water drum. However, all are sport fishes relatively fast growing and short-lived. worthless. Through competition, the na- to a boy or novice and indeed the white The latter occasionally produces "bump- tive trout population becomes woefully bass is a very popular sport fish in new er" crops or dominant year classes in a reduced. reservoirs in the southern United States. year of excellent production and survival. Occasionally perch travel alone but All four are spiny-rayed fishes, that is, All are schooling fishes and mostly are they mostly move in spindle-shaped have sharp spines in the dorsal, anal and carnivorous as large adults and feed on schools, usually made up of the same pelvic fins. This places them relatively other fishes and large invertebrates. The size fish. Normally the young perch in- high in the evolutionary stage among following account summarizes the high habit more shallow waters. fishes. The common names may be con- points of the life history of each: In laboratory tests when all tempera- fusing. The yellow perch does belong to ture ranges are available they prefer the perch family (Percidae) and is re- Yellow Perch water temperatures of 70°F (when two lated to the walleye, blue pike and years or older) or 75°F (fingerlings). The sauger, which are well known game and The yellow perch, Perca fiavescens maximum tolerated in laboratory experi- food fishes. The white perch and white ( Mitchill), one of the best known and ments was 92°F. In nature they do best in bass are classified in the sea bass family most universally distributed of the food water of moderate temperature and avoid (Serranidae) and are not to be confused and pan fishes of New York State, is the cold, deep water of lakes and the mid- with the large and smallmouth black viewed with mixed emotions by fisher- summer heat of surface waters. They are basses which belong with the sunfishes men. While highly regarded by those more tolerant than some other fishes and rock bass in the family Centrarchi- whose main interest in fishes is gastro- such as bluegill, largemouth bass and dae. The freshwater drum is the only nomic or in just catching a string of walleye under conditions of low oxygen member of the large drum family (Scia- fish, it is sometimes an irritating bait in lakes and ponds during the winter. At enidae) which is found entirely in fresh- stealer when more worthy fishes are this time the yellow perch is usually water in North America. sought. Most agree that it is a deplorable found in deeper water and continues to Except for the widespread yellow nuisance in our Adirondack ponds and feed. perch, they are spotty in their distribu- streams. On the credit side the yellow Most of the life span of a yellow tion in New York State. All do well in perch is highly respected and much perch is spent in a fairly large school the larger lakes and the white perch is sought after both by anglers and com- in the weedy areas of shallow to medium also found in marine waters. Generally mercial fishermen in many sections of depths in lakes or ponds. The daily speaking, all are warm-water fishes as New York State, and inhabits a vast movements of schools of yellow perch compared to trout or salmon. Reproduc- acreage of water. have been studied in Lake Mendota, Wis- tive potential is great and under natural Few pan fishes are more handsome consin, by divers as well as through the conditions they usually produce all the than the yellow perch. It belongs to the use of gill nets. Schools of 50 to 200 young which the environment can harbor. family Percidae which includes the wall- perch, all of about the same size, ap- Thus, there is no need to stock or trans- eye, the blue pike, the sauger. and numer- peared over certain bars in the lake in fer these species except under unusual ous small bottom dwelling fishes called the afternoon and evening throughout conditions, and perhaps to stock new darters. It is easily separated from its the summer. Local anglers have long APRIL-MAY, 1965 2 known of this habit and have made good low perch usually matures when two chrysops (Rafinesque), with which it catches. years old although a few males are ma- may occur occasionally in fresh-water in It has been noted above that the rate ture at one year. In Lake Erie the upstate New York, and the striped bass, of growth varies with food conditions, average size of mature males was seven Roccus saxatilis ( Walbaum), which often competition (especially from other yel- inches and females 8.5 inches. However, is found with the white perch in the low perch), size of water inhabited, and it is not unusual to have males in stunted Hudson River and along shore in some other factors. For example, a sample of populations mature at four inches. Long Island waters. Some of the differ- a population of stunted perch from Gil- The males ripen first and appear on ences which separate white perch from bert Lake six years old weighed L75 the spawning grounds before the females the white bass are shown here in the ounces on the average, while those of and remain there for a longer period. In colored illustrations. the same age from Bradley Brook Reser- the Severn River, , it was noted In the white perch the two dorsal fins voir weighed almost six times as much. that eggs were deposited over a period are only slightly joined by a membrane Under better than average conditions a of a month or more at the same location. while in the white bass they are entirely yellow perch reaches a length of about Spawning occurs near shore on sand, separated. The white perch has nine or 12 inches and a weight of nearly a pound gravel or rubble bottom and on vegeta- ten soft rays in the anal fin while the in nine or ten years in New York State. tion, in April and early May when the white bass has 12 or 13. The base of the A fast growing female may attain a water temperature is 44 to 54°F. Each tongue lacks teeth in the white perch; length of 12 inches in five years. Aver- pregnant female is followed by from 15 teeth are present in the white bass. In age growth attained at the end of the to 25 males that fertilize the eggs. The the adult stage, the white perch is usu- first to eight years in Green Bay, Wis- eggs are deposited in accordion-like gel- ally silvery in color (sometimes brassy) consin in inches was: 2.8, 4.5, 6.3, 7.9,1 atinous ribbons on the bottom in water and lacks conspicuous dark lateral 9.0, 10.3, 1L3, 13.6. A two-pound perch five to ten feet deep but occasionally stripes. The white bass is silvery and has is a large one, but the all-time record is less. The strings are light colored and four or five conspicuous dark lateral a four and one-quarter pound specimen the eggs are semi-transparent. The stripes on the body. In the white perch reported from the River, New strings may be up to ten feet long and the lower jaw does not project beyond Jersey, in 1865, by Dr. C. C. Abbott. The are two to three inches wide. A single the upper jaw while the reverse is true maximum age recorded for New York is female may deposit as many as 4.8,000 in the white bass. Young white perch, 12 years. In Maryland, where the yellow eggs but the average is probably less up to 1.5 or two inches long, have a perch is often found in brackish water, than half this number. Larger females series of dusky, vertical bars along the it is known to reach 19 inches but is gen- lay more eggs. A single egg averages side of the body. The striped bass gen- erally 14 to 16 inches and from one to about 1.7 mm in diameter when freshly erally is similar to the white bass in the two pounds although they sometimes at- laid. Eggs hatch in 48 hours at a water characters noted above. tain four pounds. temperature of about 63°F. The young In Long Island waters the white perch Young yellow perch feed mostly on are 5.8 mm at hatching. The egg strands may be confused with the silver perch, crustaceans and aquatic insects. Year- are not attended by the adults. Bairdiella chrysura (Lacepede), a mem- lings feed on crustaceans, insects and As a pan fish, the yellow perch has ber of the drum family. The latter is fishes. Adult yellow perch feed mostly few equals. It furnishes much fun for found in salt-water and may be identified on fishes, including their own kind. In youthful, or less skilled anglers who can by its pointed (rather than forked) tail; turn, small perch serve as food for many usually catch it when other more gamy the lateral line extends onto the tail fin game fishes. Detailed studies of the stom- fishes elude them. No expensive lures or (ends at the base of the tail in the white ach contents of several thousand yellow equipment are required. Minnows are a perch). perch, over three inches in length, show favorite bait, but perch rise readily to The range of the white perch includes a predominance of minnows, darters, a fly, espeoially when a large hatch of the Atlantic Coastal Plain from the Mar- sticklebacks and sunfishes. Among the insects occurs. Furthermore, perch are itime Provinces of New Brunswick, Nova invertebrates, many kinds of insect larvae active throughout the winter months and Scotia and Prince Edward Island, south- are engulfed. many are caught through the ice. It is ward to South Carolina. It is found in salt, The importance of yellow perch as an important commercial fish in the brackish and fresh-water. In New York food for other game fishes such as the Great Lakes region and it has high it is found in the brackish waters of walleye is illustrated by statistics from sating as a food fish. Long Island and the lower Hudson River a study made by the writer on Oneida where it is abundant. It occurs in some Lake fishes. Fifty-three out of 460 stom- White Perch adjacent fresh-water ponds. As early as achs of young walleye contained yellow 1934 it was taken in the lower Mohawk perch. Adult walleye from the same lake The common name has proven more River. It moved westward through the also ate more yellow perch than any other stable for this fish, than the scientific Mohawk and Erie Canal and was found species of fish. Other game fishes that name Roccus americanus (Gmelin). In in Cross Lake in 1952. It invaded Oneida often feed on the yellow perch are small- THE CONSERVATIONIST Aug.-Sept., 1955, Lake about 1950 and was taken com- mouth bass, northern pike, chain pickerel it •has been discussed under Morone monly by angling in the Seneca River and crappie. An examination of the food americana (Gmelin). The common name north of Auburn in 1951. By 1953 it of fish-eating game fishes in Lake Cham- is somewhat a misnomer since the white had reached Lake Erie where it was plain made by the New York Conserva- perch is actually not a perch but is a reported from off Erie, . tion Department Biological Survey re- member of a widely distributed marine Other tributaries to the Erie-Barge Canal vealed that four times as many yellow group, the sea bass family (Serranidae). may ultimately be populated by the white perch were eaten as the next most com- Its closest relative, the yellow bass. perch. It entered Lake Ontario from the mon identifiable fish food (Johnny dart- Roccus mississippiensis (Jordan and Oswego River and first appeared in 1952 er). Perch were a major food item in Eigenmann), is found in the Mississippi in the St. Lawrence River below Quebec every important game fish taken in the River drainage system but does not get City and now is established there. By St. Lawrence River. into New York State. Its other close 1960 it was found in many localities In Lake Mendota, Wisconsin, the yel- relatives are the white bass, Roccus

3 recently. The maximum age for a New also sometimes used as food. Where it along the Lake Ontario shoreline includ- York white perch is recorded as 15 years; reaches large size, it is an important pan ing the mouth of the Niagara River. The in Maine, 17 years. fish. Often large numbers can be caught population has recently increased in The food of the white perch varies. easily at dusk and at dawn. During the abundance in the Bay of Quinte region In Maine they often feed on Mayfly day, trolling with worm and spinner in of Lake Ontario and as a result the native nymphs. In Massachusetts they consume deeper waters may be successful. Wet or fish populations have been seriously de- aquatic insects and fishes. In Oneida dry flies may produce good results dur- pleted. Additional introductions should Lake, insects including midge and May- ing the spring Mayfly hatches. An occa- be avoided unless careful study indicates fly larvae, and amphipods are important. sional white perch may be taken while otherwise. Among the fishes which have been found ice fishing. It is underharvested at most The white perch occupies and thrives in large white perch stomachs are smelt, if not all places. In many fresh-water in a number of habitats but it seems to yellow perch and white perch. Newly- situations, white perch multiply rapidly, do best in waters which reach 75°F or hatched fry feed on minute or are stunted, and may have harmful af- more in the summer. In estuaries, it is plankton. Tremendous quantities of food fects on other fishes. often found in large schools, which move are needed to supply large populations upriver in the spring, probably for of white perch. Small white perch serve spawning. Young are often found in great as food for large game fishes. abundance in weedy areas along the Estuarine populations from Maryland shores of lakes and rivers such as the to Massachusetts in April and Hudson River. In rivers it is also often May. Strictly fresh-water populations taken with young striped bass which spawn in late May, June and July in the seem to prefer the non-weedy gravel-sand same latitude. A female spawns once a beaches which are swept by tidal or other year but over a period of several days. currents. In clear lakes, young are often Spawning in estuarine populations is found in water eight to 12 feet deep preceded by large scale migrations and over mud bottom in July. At night these at this time substantial numbers are White Bass schools were found along shore in shal- taken in the commercial fishery. Eggs low water. Adults often are found in are deposited in the upper tidal, largely The white bass, Roccus chrysops (Rafi- water ten to 20 feet deep in lakes and fresh-water areas, of rivers over sand nesque), and its relatives, the striped are known to move inshore to feed at and gravel bars. bass and white perch. are classified in dusk or at night. The schools sometimes All males and a few females are sexu- the sea bass family, Serranidae. This is move close to surface, like those of yel- ally mature at two years. Many females a large and widely distributed family and low perch. With the advent of cold are mature at three years and at four most speoies are found in the sea. Some weather, the white perch usually move years all are mature. An average female ichthyologists place the three species downstream to deeper water where they may lay as many as 40.000 eggs. One mentioned above, and the yellow bass, remain during the winter. In Massachu- school observed at dusk was splashing in the river bass family, Moronidae. The setts the white perch reached excellent and milling about near the surface. This striped bass spawns in fesh-water but average size in lakes and ponds having may have been a prelude to or actual in New York State does not occupy the sandy bottom and scant cover. Ponds spawning. As soon as the eggs are de- same range as the white bass. The striped having rubble bottom and extensive cover posited they sink to the bottom and bass is more elongate; the body is silvery often have an overabundance of stunted stick firmly to any object. with approximately seven conspicuous, white perch. The egg is spherical, markedly adhe- dark, lateral stripes in contrast to the The growth rate and maximum size sive, and transparent to translucent. white bass which is a deeper more com- attained vary greatly depending upon Average egg diameter is 0.79 mm when pressed fish with four or five conspicuous locality and habitat. The maximum size unfertilized; 0.92 when fertilized and and sometimes interrupted dark. lateral in estuaries and large rivers approaches water hardened. Eggs hatch in about 48 stripes. The white perch also is silvery or six pounds. In nearby ponds the average hours at a water temperature of about brassy in color but lacks the conspicuous, length may be eight to ten inches and 63°F. At hatching the fry average 2.6 dark, lateral stripes. In the adult white one or less pounds in weight. In lakes mm total length and are transparent, bass, the lower jaw projects beyond the and reservoirs where crowding has not lack a mouth opening, have non-pigment- upper while the reverse is true in the occurred, weights of three to almost five ed eyes, and a greatly enlarged yolk sac white perch. The white bass is super- pounds have been noted. In most of the and an oil globule beneath the head. ficially like the freshwater drum. The Hudson River it averages rather small. After five or six days the yolk sac has latter has a bluntly pointed or rounded and although abundant. is of little com- been absorbed and the pigment becomes rather than a forked tail fin, and the mercial importance. However, in some developed. At a length of a half-inch or lateral line extends onto the tail fin of the lakes and reservoirs of the Croton less they are found along share particu- whereas it ends at the base of the tail River system. New York, the average larly in quiet areas. By the end of the in the white bass. The freshwater drum size is relatively large and here it is an first summer they vary in length from has a very long second dorsal fin. Super- important pan fish. two and a half to four inches. ficially, the white bass and the white A recent study of the growth rate of No care is given the eggs or young by perch resemble the smallmouth and large- white perch collected in Oneida Lake in the adult. On Lone Island and in the mouth basses and other sunfishes (Cen- 1956-59 gives average total length in lower Hudson the white perch has com- trarchidae). In the latter the dorsal fins inches at the end of the first to sixth mercial value and often may be seen in are broadly joined together and they lack years as 3.5. 7.5. 8.7. 9.6. 10.1, 10.6. the markets. The center of the commer- a spine on the gillcover. After the second year females are slight- cial fishery is the upper . The white bass is widely distributed ly larger than males. Older white perch The bones are relatively large and it is in the Mississippi River system and the were not available for this study perhaps not necessary to filet white perch. The Great Lakes drainage. It is known from because they had entered Oneida Lake flesh is firm and succulent. The roe is Minnesota and Wisconsin to southern

4 Ontario and New York State in the Lake bass, which is ten inches long, weighs deeper waters of the lake where they Ontario and St. Lawrence River basins. about one-half pound. are found relatively close to the sur- Southward it extends to the Tennessee The success of a given year class dif- face. A large number of eggs are River system of and to Missis- fers greatly in the white bass. In Oneida produced by a female depending upon sippi and eastern Texas. It has been Lake those hatched in 1954 were pre- her size. The range in 14 ripe females stocked in many of the new reservoirs in dominant in the catch from 1956 through was from 241,000 to 933,000. The aver- the South and perhaps its center of abun- 1961. The studies of Dr. John L. Forney age diameter of the egg is 0.81 mm. dance is shifting southward. Throughout in Oneida Lake showed that the walleye, They hatch in 46 hours at 60°F. its range it is normally found in lakes, yellow perch, white perch, and small- In New York State the white bass reservoirs, and large rivers. When intro- mouth bass also produced strong year spawns in shallow waters or in the duced in ponds in northern Iowa (two or classes in 1954. The reasons for great mouths of streams during the spring three acres), it did not reproduce. production and survival of certain year months. Tagged white bass off Ohio in In New York State it is common in classes is still under study. Lake Erie, after spawning moved out Lake Erie, the Niagara River, and is The summer food of the white bass in into the lake and often reached Canadian found in Lake Ontario and in its larger Oneida Lake which are one year and waters. In Lake Mendota, Wisconsin tributaries. In central New York it oc- older consists of fishes and aquatic ins tagged white bass which were displaced curs infrequently in Seneca and Cayuga sects. The fish most often taken was from the spawning grounds, returned lakes, and the Seneca River, and is com- young yellow perch. Mayflies and midges faithfully to their respective spawning mon in Oneida Lake. It is found occa- were the common insects eaten. Zoo- sites, there being two principal spawning sionally in the St. Lawrence River in the plankton (Daphnia) were not a promi- places near the northern shore. fall and ranges downstream, where it was nent item in the diet, in Oneida Lake, The white bass, also called silver bass found below Quebec City in 1944. although this was a principal food in in this State, is handsome in appearance In the northern part of the range the Lake Mendota, Wisconsin. Some places and has good game qualities. It provides white bass does best in lakes or rivers their food includes yellow perch, bluegill excellent sport along the shores of Lake which are normally clear. It is absent and crappies. In Lake Erie, adults feed Erie, Lake Ontario, and in Oneida Lake from silty lakes in Ohio where it has extensively on the emerald shiner, which and occasionally elsewhere. A survey of been repeatedly introduced. It moves is an abundant species there. Small white the Lake Erie sport fishing catch off upstream sometimes in large numbers bass eat mostly crustaceans and insect Ohio showed that yellow perch, fresh- in spring but avoids polluted areas. larvae. water drum and white bass were most In Lake Mendota, Wisconsin over 90 In the northern part of their range the abundant in this order in summer. At the per cent of the white bass were caught white bass does not mature at the end same locality the ice fishing harvest was within 20 feet of the surface while over of its first year. However, most mature in yellow perch, American smelt, white bass 90 per cent of the yellow perch were the second year of life and all are mature and walleye. taken below 20 feet (when the water was in the third year. The male matures as deep as 54 feet). Compact schools of when younger and of smaller size. The adult white bass were conspicuous at the male ripens each year much earlier than surface from May through October when the female and occasionally, like many zooplankton (Daphnia) comprised the fishes which spawn in the spring of the bulk of the food. The Daphnia have a year, sometimes are ripe in the fall. Fe- significant vertical migration with typical males, however, do not ripen until near morning and evening concentrations at the spawning time. Spawning occurs near the surface to which the feeding pattern the surface of lakes and rivers over areas of the white bass corresponds. where the bottom is firm, usually where A study of tagged white bass in Lake the water is two to four feet deep. They Texoma, Oklahoma, showed that move- may also spawn in tributary streams. ments may vary from less than 50 yards In the spring when the water tempera- to as much as 200 miles up a tributary ture rises to 55° to 60°F, sexually mature Feeding schools are usually fairly uni- river, with an average of 10.6 miles. The white bass form large schools, each con- form in size. They are normally found fastest travel is 6.9 miles per day in a sisting of a single sex. The male schools just beneath the surface before and after tributary river and 3.2 miles in Lake migrate to the spawning grounds and are dusk. During •this period they move in- Texoma. met there by the schools of females, shore and feed avidly on schools of min- The white bass is a short-lived species which arrive later. During these migra- nows and other fishes. At this time they compared with its relatives, the white tions the males may battle each other and will take almost any offered bait and perch and striped bass. It seldom lives both sexes are known to feed. At any giv- are great sport when taken on light more than seven years, which may be less en locality the total spawning period lasts tackle using a spinner or large dry fly. than half the lifetime of the white perch. from five to ten days; spawning occurs Many small plugs are also effective. In In Oneida Lake for ages 1-5 the total both day and night. Throughout its the evening the lure should be kept near lengths average: 5.3. 10.3, 12.3. 13.3, range spawning occurs from April the surface. During daylight hours it is and 14.0 inches. Females grow faster through June. at water temperatures best to fish by trolling a minnow or than males, there being about 1.5 inches ranging from 58 to 75°F. In the spawn- spinner-fly combination close to the bot- difference from the third to seventh year. ing area males outnumber females. Dur- tom. Obviously since the white bass lives Growth is faster in the South, where ing the spawning act several males only a relatively short time it should be six-year specimens may be 19.4 inches surround a female and the group swims harvested rapidly when available. It is and five pounds. The more slowly grow- rapidly and erratically; the eggs being a good fish to eat; the flesh is white and ing populations live longer, but do not scattered at or near the surface. The firm and it compares favorably with other attain as large a maximum size. The eggs, which are heavy, sink to the bottom fresh-water fishes. Some anglers consider maximum length of life in New York is and adhere to gravel and vegetation. younger fish to be tastier. It is taken probably nine years. The average white After spawning, the schools return to the commercially by seines and gill nets.

5 ROCK BASS, Ambloplites rupestris rupestris (Rafinesque)

BLACK CRAPPIE, Pomoxis nigromaculatus (LeSueur)

6 Freshwater Drum on mollusks. The shells are crushed by In the upper Mississippi River the first the powerful, flat pharyngeal teeth. At mature males were observed in their The freshwater drum or sheepshead, present in most waters, and particularly third growing season and were 12.2 inches Aplodinotus grunniens Rafinesque, is in lakes, the food seems to be crayfishes, long. These were the larger males of the the only member of the large drum fam- fishes and insects. In Lake Erie the May- year class. During the fourth season of ily ( Sciaenidae) which lives entirely fly and amphipod are the two most im- growth, 63 per cent of the males were within fresh-water in North America. It portant items for fresh-water drum of all mature and the mean length was 13.8. is a silvery fish which superficially re- ages. Until about one inch long it feeds Virtually all males were mature by the sembles the white bass. However, it has mostly on entomostraca. In western Lake fifth season. Female maturity was first a bluntly pointed or rounded rather than Erie where the fresh-water drum has reached during the fifth growing season a forked tail, has a long second dorsal been studied intensively it is known to at which time almost half were mature, fin (more than 15 soft rays), the upper occupy three different habitats during its at an average length of 15.2 inches. All jaw overhangs the lower and the lateral life. The very young feed on organisms females were mature beyond the sixth line extends onto the tail fin. The "ear in the open water. When they are about season of growth. In Lake Erie some bones" or otoliths are very large, circu- an inch long they move to the bottom males mature at four years and some lar and with an L-shaped marking on one and feed there. After the first summer females at five years, at 12 and 15 inches. of the flat surfaces. These so-called season the juveniles move back and forth In the upper Mississippi River the "lucky stones" are often found at ancient between the shoal areas and the deep spawning period extends from the first Indian campsites. Drums taken in turbid water. Sub-adult and adult fishes are of March to the last of June. In western waters are usually yellowish-white while found over mud bottom in deep water Lake Erie most spawning occurs in July those from clear water are bronze. The and over the shoal habitat. although the season may extend from name drum refers to the fact that they June to early September. Females from make a grunting, drumming, or purring five to eight years old produce from sound which results from vibrations of 43,000 to 508,000 eggs and one-third of the air bladder. The sound is often heard these may be laid during a given year. as the fish moves about under the water, The spawning act apparently has not as well as when caught. The male drums been observed. Available evidence points more often during the spawning season. to either the bays or lower rivers, or the It is widely distributed from the Hud- open lake as the locality of spawning. son Bay drainage southward to Quebec Very small young have been taken in and Lake Champlain and westward and bays in water six feet deep over a bottom southward to Pennsylvania and Montana of sand and mud. Other small young and the the Gulf states, eastern Mexico were found over moderately deep water and northern Guatemala. Usually it is near the Bass Islands in western Lake found in large rivers and lakes and often Erie. The eggs are about 1 mm in di- in silty waters. ameter when ripe and when laid they In New York the freshwater drum is float at the surface. In an aquarium, common in Lake Erie and the Niagara spawning occurred at night when the River; occurs in Lake Ontario and in water temperature was about 70°F. At some of its larger bays, and in the Erie- this temperature the eggs hatch in sev- Barge Canal and tributary rivers in cen- eral days and the young remain head tral New York and Oneida Lake; occa- down in midwater. sionally in tributaries of the St. Lawrence A recent survey of the sport fishery and is widely distributed in Lake Cham- in Lake Erie off Ohio showed that yellow plain where it is especially common in perch was most abundant in the catches South Bay. Often in the spring of the and was followed by the freshwater drum. year it enters the mouth of the larger, Common baits used are crayfishes, worms deeper creeks. The adult drum is found and minnows. Baits are usually weighted in large schools during the summer; with and fished on the bottom. Occasionally cool weather in the fall it generally re- one will get a freshwater drum on a treats to deep water. River populations spinner, wet flies or small plugs, while migrate upstream in May and June, per- trolling or casting for walleye or white haps for spawning. bass. Estimates based on lower pharyngeal An age-growth study of the freshwater The edible qualities of the freshwater arches taken from Indian middens and drum from Lake Erie indicated the old- drum may vary with locality. Apparently compared with arches from recent 20- est and largest specimen was in its 17th the flesh of the smaller specimens, one pound specimens indicate a probable year. It was 27.2 inches long and weighed to two pounds, is better than that of maximum size well under 100 pounds. 7 pounds 14 ounces. The average length large adults. Those from some lakes have In Lake Erie where there is a commercial attained at the end of the first through a muddy flavor. In some places they rank as well as sport fishery, the average size eighth years in total length in inches is: with suckers and carp as an inferior fish. is about 15 inches and weight 1.5 pounds. 4.8, 8.2, 10.3, 12.0, 13.7, 15.0, 15.9, and In Iowa it is considered palatable and Drum up to ten pounds are reported oc- 17.0. The approximate weight at the end although it does not rank with the game casionally. There are early records in of one through six years in ounces is fishes, the flesh is rather firm. It is taken Illinois of specimens which reached four 4, 7, 11, 16, 20, 30. The growth rate ap- commercially in Lake Erie and in some feet in length and 60 pounds. pears to be somewhat faster in the South. localities in the Mississippi River sys- The freshwater drum of large size At Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee, in 11 years tem. It is more often used now that other normally feeds on the bottom. The older a total length of 27.2 inches and weight more desirable food fishes have decreased literature often refers to them as feeding 11 pounds, 5 ounces is attained. in abundance.

7 WHITE PERCH, Roccus omericanus (Gmelin) Adult male

Some Pan Fishes

FRESHWATER DRUM, Aplodinotus grunniens Rafinesgue Male

8 WHITE BASS, Roccus chrysops (Rafinesque) Female of New York State

YELLOW PERCH, Perca flayescens (Mitch;II) Male

9 Some Pan Fishes of New York —Rock Bass, Crappies and Other Sunfishes

by Edward C. Raney, Division of Biological Sciences, Cornell University

pan fish is easily caught and good Some species feed occasionally during male leaves. Later she may spawn in the to eat. The sunfishes found in the winter under ice cover. same or another nest. A single female New York State qualify. With the may produce from 2,000 to 325,000 eggs smallmouth and the largemouth Nesting Habits depending on species and size. basses, they are classified in the family The male guards the eggs and newly- , one of a large number of With an increase in temperature in the hatched young and aerates them by cur- families of perciform or spiny-rayed spring the males make their way toward rents made by fanning movements of the fishes. The family is North American and shore and are followed by the females. fins. A few days after the eggs are all but one of the 25 known species are When a suitable place is found over fine hatched the fry gradually rise out of the found natively east of the Rocky Moun- gravel or sand near shore the male rest and are left to shift for themselves. tains. The exception is the Sacramento chooses and guards a territory and begins When the adult is removed from the nest perch, Archoplites interruptus, of central construction of a nest during daylight the eggs and small fry are eaten or be- California. Many of the common species hours. A depression is made by vigorous come covered with silt and water mold have been stocked and now have more fanning movements of the tail fin. The and may soon perish. Sudden and sharp extensive ranges in the U.S., and some male turns in all directions and this re- decreases in water temperature during are found in other parts of the world. sults in the nest diameter usually being nesting, such as may occur from sudden This article discusses the rock bass, about twice his length. Large objects high releases into a river from the cold mud sunfish, black crappie, white crap- may be removed using the mouth. bottom water (approximately 40°F) of pie, pumpkinseed, bluegill, redbreast, a deep reservoir, will cause permanent The nest consists of a shallow, saucer- longear, green, bluespotted and banded desertion of nests and soon will greatly like, circular depression in the bottom. sunfishes and warmouth. All but the green reduce a population. Over hard bottom the nest may be noth- sunfish, the warmouth and possibly the ing more than a cleaned area, while in Dr. Carl L. Hubbs and others have dem- white crappie are native to New York. soft mud it can be two or three times as onstrated from laboratory studies and observations in nature that some sun- The name sunfish probably alludes deep as the length of the guarding male. fishes readily cross or hybridize. Long both to their colors, which are usually Some species prefer to nest near a log ago the hybrid between the pumpkinseed brightest in the male, and the habit of or rock which serves as shelter and males and green sunfish was found in nature many species of remaining in well-lighted, have been seen guarding a nest under and described as a species, Lepomis shallow water, particularly at nesting an overhanging bank or in a broken re- euryorus, and the cross between the time. All are carnivorous and they eat taining wall. Normally the nests are lo- bluegill and the green sunfish was called small invertebrates, particularly insects, cated in quiet water but there are ex- Lepomis ischyrus. These two hybrids crustaceans, mollusks, and small fishes. ceptions; occasionally the redbreast nests combination are known in nature from Adults more often feed on small fishes in current below a rock in a river. New York. The bluegill and pumpkin- and crayfishes. Most individuals of most Sometimes the nests are close together seed hybrid is common in Chautauqua species are found in quiet waters par- in colonies. Adjoining males dash at each Lake and elsewhere, and the hybrid be- ticularly in lakes, ponds and rivers, but other and much chasing is done but little tween pumpkinseed and redbreast is some are found in pools in creeks. Most fighting occurs because the smaller fish often found in eastern New York. species travel in schools. of either sex usually retreats rapidly. The With most sunfishes there is a ten- Sunfishes are moderate or short-lived depth of water over nests varies with dency to overpopulate the available and few individuals live more than ten the species, location and season and may space resulting in depletion of food and years. Most specimens are less than nine be from six inches to ten feet. Sometimes stunting of the individuals. In many inches in length and some dwarf popula- a colony of nests will be nearly exposed situations probably the only effective de- tions may never reach a length of more by falling water in a river. terrent to stunting is an adequate num- than four inches. Feeding continues during nest build- ber of large predatory fishes. Where Sunfishes like warm water and make ing and a sunfish may be caught by hook feasible in small lakes and ponds, stunted their best growth in regions with a long and line at this time. When this happens, populations often are destroyed entirely, warm season. However, they often pro- other fishes, including individuals of the or controlled partially by poisoning duce stunted populations particularly in same species, may rush in and quickly nests. Experience in New York has relatively cold waters. The pumpkinseed eat the eggs. Normally any intruder is shown that year around and intensive does fairly well in some cool Adirondack met by a rapid dash from a guarding fishing will not unduly deplete a stock streams where it is the only native mem- male. He recognizes a female because so sunfish populations should be fished ber of the family. she will not retreat when ready to spawn. very hard. Obviously sunfishes should not Most become quiet in the fall when At other times she quickly moves away be introduced into new situations with- the water temperature drops below 40°F. just like any other fish. At spawning the out careful evaluation. The redbreast and mud sunfishes, and female takes a position toward the cen- to a lesser extent the black crappie, form ter of the nest, reclines to one side and dense wintering schools. Others, particu- as the two sexes circle about the nest, Rock Bass larly the rock bass, warmouth, bluegill, the eggs and sperm are deposited. Rela- green, pumpkinseed and bluespotted sun- tively few eggs are extruded at one time The rock bass, Ambloplites rupestris fishes are relatively quiet below 50°F and intermittent spawning may continue Rafinesque) shares with the mud sunfish but do not school, at least in aquaria. for an hour or more, after which the fe- JUNE-JULY, 1965

10 PUMPKINSEED, Lepomis gibbosus (Linnaeus)

LONGEAR SUNFISH, Lepomis megalotis peltastes (Cope)

11 and the two species of crappie the char- fourth year of life or as late as the be- ing sound. probably by grating the acter of having five or more anal spines. ginning of the seventh year. Both sexes pharyngeal teeth. The other sunfishes as well as the large- mature at about the same age. The nest- It is also secretive at spawning time and smallmouth basses have three anal ing habits are similar to those of other and few nests have been found. One spines. The rock bass is generally known sunfishes. The nest is a circular depres- observed in early June in and easily recognized by the red eye. the sion on the bottom, usually in gravel. It was about a foot in diameter and con- many series of dark spots on the side of is prepared and guarded by the male. sisted of a saucer-shaped depression in its robust. olive color body. these appear- He also guards the eggs and the small the sand which was surrounded by mud ing as broken lateral stripes. The nuptial fry. Within a few days the fry gradually and aquatic plants. Although this species colors of a male 8% inches in total move out of the nest and shift for them- may reach eight inches it is usually less length taken from Tibbits Creek, a tribu- selves. A female weighing from 4 to 8 than six inches long. tary of the St. Lawrence River, on June ounces may produce 3.000 egg'5 while 22. 1930 is illustrated. one 16 to 20 ounces may lay 8.500. In The mud sunfish is closely related southern New York most spawning oc- Black Crappie but it has smooth (cycloid) scales and curs from late April through mid-June. the caudal fin is convex rather than In northern New York they have been The black crappie. Pomoxis nigroma- emarginate. The warmouth is superficial- seen guarding nests with eggs present culatus ( LeSueur), is also known as ly similar in appearance but has three from early June through mid-July. calico bass and strawberry bass in New anal spines. strong, black stripes on the Spawning apparently is initiated when York State. The nuptial colors of an head, clouded or mottled marks on the the water temperature reaches 69° or adult male 11 inches in total length taken in Chautauqua Lake, on April 27. Sides of the body, and a series of sharp, 70°F. and may continue when water black spots near the base of the second temperatures are at least 78°F. During 1935 are illustrated. The basic coloration dorsal and the anal fin. the winter when the temperature is below is olive and gold with blue or slate mot- 50°F the rock bass, like the bluegill and tlings on the sides. The dorsal, caudal and The rock bass is widely distributed pumpkinseed sunfish, are relatively anal fins are partly covered with light in midwestern North America and occurs quiet but do not school like the large- spots. Specimens from turbid waters have in most of the drainage systems of New mouth bass. fainter markings. The adult white crap- York State, but generally is absent in The rock bass will take a lure almost pie differs in having from five to ten the higher altitudes in the Adirondacks. any time during daylight hours and gen- double, dusky bars on the upper and It was native in early times in western erally is thought of as a fine pan fish. mid-side of the body but technical dif- New York, Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence, Occasionally they are a nuisance when ferences are usually used to separate and possibly also the Lake Champlain one is searching for larger fishes such as small specimens. The black crappie has drainages but was introduced into the the smallmouth. However, large rock seven or eight dorsal fin spines, is deep' Hudson and Delaware rivers systems and bass are often sought eagerly and ap- bodied, and the length of the dorsal fin is now common. It may not have been preciated by young sportsmen. It will base is about equal to the distance from native to the Susquehanna system but take dry or wet flies and is also easily the origin of the dorsal fin to the eye. has been common there for many years. caught using worms, minnows or cray- The white crappie has six dorsal fin It was introduced on Long Island where fishes. It is of minor commercial value spines, the body is slender, and the it is limited to some of the larger lakes in Lakes Erie and Ontario. length of the dorsal fin base is much in Suffolk County. The subspecies found Like other species of sunfishes, the less, being two-thirds or three-fourths of in New York State is the northern rock rock bass should not be introduced into the distance from the origin of the dorsal bass. The other described subspecies has areas where it does not now occur. This to the eye. a large eye and is found in streams tribu- is particularly true of the upper Adiron- Among the sunfishes the two crappies tary to the Gulf of Mexico, mostly in dack waters. are most like the rock bass. They may eas- lowland areas. ily be identified by the large anal fin which is about the same size as the dorsal fin It prefers larger lakes and rivers and Mud Sunfish whereas the anal fin is much smaller occasionally is found in large ponds. It than the dorsal in the other species of is found in sluggish or moderate current The mud sunfish, Acantharcus pomotis sunfishes. The rock bass usually has 11 and young rock bass are often found in (Baird), is found in the Hackensack to 12 dorsal fin spines while neither crap- patches of weeds or near other shelter. River drainage in New York and is dis- pie has more than nine, and the rock The rock bass is basically a warm water tributed on the Coastal Plain southward bass has fewer than 15 gill rakers. where- fish and usually avoids cold headwaters through New Jersey to . The as the crappies have 25 or more. and very small streams. The growth rate adult is brownish or olive in color with The black crappie is widely distributed and maximum size attained vary with four dark, lateral stripes on the body; in southern Canada from Manitoba to several factors including degree of gilt, green and bronze reflections are Quebec and southward through the Great crowding, amount of food available, and present, particularly at spawning time. Lakes and the Mississippi River drain- size of body of water in which found. It It is related to the rock bass and may age, south to Texas and northern Florida reaches its largest size in large bodies be separated by the convex tail fin and and northward on the Atlantic Coast to of water and under ideal conditions may by the smooth (cycloid) scales, it being . It has been introduced reach a length of 14 inches and a weight the only member of the bass family elsewhere. It is more widely distributed of two pounds or more. The maximum which possesses such scales. The scales in New York State than the white crap- length of life in nature is about 11 years, of the rock bass bear small spines on pie and presently is found scattered but in captivity one was known to live the exposed margin of the scale, and the throughout the State except in the Ad- for more than 18 years. caudal fin is emarginate. The mud sun- irondack area. It is usually found in Its food is much like that of the small. fish prefers quiet water and is seldom lakes and large rivers. Chautauqua Lake, mouth bass. When small it eats insects. seen, partly because it is nocturnal and the bays off Lake Ontario, the upper St. as well as other small invertebrates in- it remains in weedy areas. Mostly the Lawrence River, Lake Champlain, the cluding small crayfishes. The adults eat adult lies head down, almost perpendicu- Hudson and the lower Mohawk rivers crayfishes. small fishes and large insects. lar, in weeds and unlike the other sun- have the largest populations. In Lake Rock bass may spawn as early as the fishes has been reported to make a grunt- Erie it is absent or rare in New York 12 White crappie, Pomoxis annularis (Rafinesquei

State and also is uncommon in Ohio. It inches long. Nest building begins when and their outlets. It has been taken at seems likely that its presence in the Sus- the water is 66° to 68°F. In New York one locality on Long Island (Brownings quehanna, Delaware, Mohawk and Hud- it is in May and June and it usually Lake near Wantagh ). It is usually found son rivers systems resulted from stocking. begins spawning earlier than the small- in rivers, lakes and sloughs. In turbid The largest populations are found in mouth bass. Nest building and guarding waters it is more common than the black clear, weedy lakes but occasionally the by the male is similar to that of the crappie and is often found over mud bot- species is present in sluggish streams. other sunfishes but groups of nests are tom. Young are often found in weed beds. It often located in water from three to eight In many New York lakes it is now is being replaced as the dominant species or more feet deep. The number of eggs more common than the black crappie by the white crappie in New York State laid varies with the size of the female whereas the reverse was true 20 to 30 and elsewhere. Dr. Udell B. Stone has and over 150,000 eggs may be deposited years ago. Similar shifts have been noted observed this in Chautauqua Lake, where by a large specimen. The two crappies in Iowa and elsewhere in the Mid-West about 30 years ago the black crappie hybridize occasionally in nature. especially where a decrease in lake level was the predominant species but in re- The black crappie is a good pan fish has been accompanied by an increase in cent years the white crappie is most when it reaches moderate or large size. turbidity. When the two occur in the same common. The black crappie often moves It is sought after by anglers particularly lake the white crappie often inhabits the about in schools and particularly just in late April and early May. It often deeper offshore waters. Both crappies before spawning season. When the water congregates near brush piles and weed spend the winter near the lake bottom reaches a temperature of 50°F or low- beds. It does not do well and should not but occupy all depths at the spring over- er, it moves into deeper water. be stocked in small farm ponds. turn. Recoveries of the white crappie The black crappie is heavier than which had been tagged in rivers have the white crappie at the same body White Crappie shown that they sometimes make jour- length, and in both growth varies con- neys up to 16 or 18 miles but most are siderably with locality and ecology. The white crappie, Pomoxis annularis taken within five miles of the point of Maximum weight varies from two to four (Rafinesque), is more elongate than the release. pounds. Both crappies grow better in black crappie and has five to ten double. A 10-inch white crappie in New York clear lakes even though the white crappie dark vertical bars on the upper side of waters weighs about eight ounces. while tolerates turbid conditions better. In New the body which contrasts with the mot- a 12-inch specimen may weigh one pound. York the maximum age is at least eight tled appearance of the latter. Other major In most situations the white crappie has winters and for the white crappie nine differences are noted above under the a moderate life span but a 13-year-old winters. account of the black crappie. specimen weighing three pounds. nine The black crappie is carnivorous and The white crappie is widely dis- ounces. reported from Iowa. was excep- feeds on insects, crustaceans and small tributed through the Mississippi River tional. fishes; the latter being taken largely by drainage and the Great Lakes. In New The white crappie feeds mostly on larger specimens. It feeds off the bottom York State it is native in Lake Erie (not crustaceans, insect larvae and fishes. The among weeds, and in open water, and common), the Allegheny River drainage. adult may feed on almost any fish that to some extent at the surface. Feeding and possibly along the western shore of is available. Carp. yellow perch, bluegill. occurs mostly in the evening, at night Lake Ontario. It probably was introduced white crappie and gizzard shad are some and in early morning. The adult feeds into the lower Mohawk and the adjacent of those that have been found in its stom- much less in the winter but is occasion- Hudson River by stocking and is fairly ach. The most active feeding periods are ally caught by ice fishermen. common in some localities. In the Al- April. May and June. and again in Sep- In the North the black crappie matures legheny River drainage it is most common tember and October. It is relatively in- in its third year when about seven or more in Chautauqua Lake and nearby lakes active in July and August when water 13 0 temperatures are between 70 and 87°F. York State. It is the only species in the the third or fourth. The male builds and It usually matures when two or three family to be found natively in the Adiron- guards a nest, eggs and newly-hatched years old. The smallest ripe females are dacks where it is widely distributed. It fry. Normally a large number of nests slightly less than six inches total length. also is found commonly on Long and are found in the same area over fine The male is slightly darker than the Staten islands. gravel and/or sand and some are located female at spawning but otherwise the It prefers quiet, clear waters where the near a rock or log which seems to serve sexes are alike in color. Spawning oc- bottom has some organic debris and as shelter. Several thousand eggs may be curs in May and June. The male builds where beds of aquatic vegetation are pres- deposited in a nest by one or several and guards the nest, eggs and young. The ent. It most often occurs in ponds, lakes females. In New York State most of the nest is usually built in deeper water than and rivers but is also found in pools in spawning occurs in June but occasionally other sunfishes and has been noted at streams. In Lake Erie it is generally it is in late May or early July. depths of from three to eight feet. Nests restricted to weedy areas. Laboratory ex- In nature in New York the pumpkin- have been found over a variety of bot- periments indicate that when free to seed has been known to hybridize with toms including mud, sand, clay, gravel choose a temperature the pumpkinseed the bluegill, redbreast and green sun- and vegetation. The number of eggs pro- prefers 88° to 89°F. It becomes relatively fishes. The combination pumpkinseed x duced varies from about 2,000 in a crap- quiet in temperatures below 50°F but redbreast has been collected at 26 local- pie a little less than six inches long to does not form dense hibernating schools. ities in New York. Elsewhere the pump- 325,000 in one 13 inches long. The incu- The growth rate of the pumpkinseed kinseed has also been known to hybridize bation period is a little over 24 hours at varies considerably from place to place. with the warmouth and the longear sun- a temperature of 70° to 74°F. In the lowlands in large waters such as fish. The best fishing for white crappie is St. Lawrence River and Lake Champlain The pumpkinseed is a good food fish in the spring and again in the fall and it may reach a relatively large size. in big lakes where it reaches a large size. it may be taken occasionally during the Specimens almost nine inches long and It is captured using worms, grasshoppers winter. Live bait in the form of small weighing 9.5 ounces have been taken. and the like and will rise to flies or small shiners or other minnows is used but they In the deeper water of Oneida Lake some spinner. Small ones cannot take a lure are also taken on small flies. It should are reported to be almost a foot in length. because of their small mouth. As a pan not be used to stock the average farm In the Adirondacks it occurs along with fish the pumpkinseed would rate second pond. the brook trout in many situations. A after the rock bass. It is good to eat when dwarf form has been reported by Dr. scaled and fried. Pumpkinseed John R. Greeley from a number of places. A dwarf population was observed in Bluegill The pumpkinseed, or common sunfish, Beaver River Flow of the Black River Lepomis gibbosus (Linnaeus), is exceed- system on June 28, 1931. More than 100 The bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus ma- ingly handsome. The nuptial colors of adult specimens were seen in and about crochirus (Rafinesque), is darkish as an a male, 5 2/3 inches total length taken nests but none was more than 4 inches adult except for the blue border on the in Tibbits Creek, a tributary of the St. in length. Spawning of the dwarf pump- lower part of the gill cover which extends Lawrence River on June 17, 1930 are kinseed was noted in Lake Eaton of the forward to the jaws, and the yellowish illustrated. Characteristic colors are the Raquette River system on June 31, 1933 breast. It is best identified by the dark, bluish stripes on the head, the black ear when the water temperature was 71°F. flexible ear flap, the dark bars on the 7 1 flap (opercle) with whitish border and The adult males were from 2 /s to 5 /8 body and the dark spot in the rear part red tip, the olive-colored body with red inches long. However, in Piercefield Flow of the soft dorsal fin. The nuptial colors or bronze spots, the spotted second dorsal of the same drainage exceptionally large of male, 8.5 inches total length taken in fin, and the thin, whitish or yellowish individuals were taken. Extremely small Black Lake, a tributary of the Oswegat- margin to the second dorsal and anal fins. sunfish were taken at Irving Pond of the chie River, on May 31, 1931 are illus- Other more technical details which help East Canada Creek system of the Mo- trated. Other important characters which identify juvenile and female specimens hawk River watershed; 22 adults cap- help in identifying small specimens are are small mouth, short, blunt gill rakers tured on July 10, 1934 averaged slightly the small mouth, long, thin gill rakers, 1 on the front of the first arch, bony part over 3 /2 inches total length. An examina- the long, sharp pectoral fin, and sharp of opercular flap very stiff to its margin, tion of the scales indicated they had pharyngeal teeth. pectoral fins long and sharply pointed, passed through four to seven winters. In New York State the bluegill is most and molar-like pharyngeal teeth. The In other situations the pumpkinseed likely to be confused with the redbreast longear and green sunfishes also have a reaches intermediate size. Some of these sunfish. Both have a black ear flap and red tip on the posterior end of the oper- differences may be genetic and others the bony part of the ear flap is a thin, cular flap in the male. The longear has may have to do with adverse conditions flexible projection which is fringed along short, rounded pectoral fins and a very of food and space brought about by the posterior margin and which is covered wide, bony opercular flap which is flexible crowding. At the end of their fifth year by a membrane. In the bluegill this black to the tip. The green sunfish has a short they may vary from 4 to 6.5 inches in ear flap is wide while in the redbreast it pectoral fin. Neither have small, dark total length in various places. Most do is long and narrow. The bluegill also spots in the second dorsal fin. The blue- not live more than six or seven winters lacks teeth on the palate and has long, gill has a black opercular flap, the bony and the maximum age attained in New thin gill rakers and a long, pectoral fin part of which is flexible to the tip, and York is reported to be nine years. whereas in the redbreast the palatine has long, thin gill rakers. The pumpkinseed feeds on insects, teeth are present, the gill rakers and the The pumpkinseed is widely distributed crustaceans and snails which they ap- pectoral fin are short. Both are relatively in southern Canada, the upper Missis- parently can crush with their flat teeth dull colored, but the redbreast lacks dark. sippi River system, the Great Lakes and located in the throat. At times large vertical bars on the sides of the body. southward along the Atlantic Coast to specimens feed on small fishes. Small The northern subspecies of the bluegill . It has been introduced in many pumpkinseed are often eaten by larger is widely distributed natively from Min- other areas. It is the most widely dis- fishes. nesota through southern Ontario to the tributed, the most abundant and probably Faster growing males mature in the upper St. Lawrence drainage and Lake the best known of the sunfishes in New second year of life; all are mature in Champlain, and southward through the 14 Great Lakes and the Mississippi River 76°F. Late June and July covers most four inches in total length in the moun- basin, and has been introduced elsewhere. spawning in New York. The bluegill is tains to 12 inches and several pounds in Until about 1940 its distribution in New similar to the redbreast sunfish in its lowland waters. Some redbreast sunfish York was rather spotty; it was found as spawning habits and usually nests in are known to have reached an age of six a native in the Allegheny River system, colonies on sand beaches or gravel bars. years. Its food consists of aquatic insects, in various tributaries of Lake Ontario, A five-inch female may produce as many other invertebrates and small fishes. and at other scattered localities mostly in as 6,000 eggs while a nine-inch bluegill Nests of this species have been found the western half of the State. It was may lay almost 50,000. from early June to early August. They absent from the Adirondacks when the Because it reaches a larger size than were seen spawning on June 14, 1933, Biological Surveys were made in 1929 most of the other sunfishes it is one of in Raquette Lake in the Adirondacks. through 1933, was common in South Bay the better pan fishes. However, it is not Excavations were in coarse sand or gravel of Lake Champlain but was not collected widely distributed and except locally and fairly close to shore in 6 to 16 inches elsewhere in the drainage, nor were they in farm ponds, does not offer much sport. of water. Eggs and fry were noted on taken in the St. Lawrence River survey They are taken on worms and will rise the nests which were guarded by a male of 1930. to a fly or small spoon. Its flesh is flaky from five to six inches long. When a The bluegill was probably not a native and firm, and is rated almost as good as guarding male was removed by angling in southeastern New York but has been the yellow perch as a food when scaled the small sunfish in the vicinity quickly stocked extensively and now is a com- and fried. entered the nest and greedily ate the mon species in the Hudson River. During eggs. The nests vary in size from 12 to the lower Hudson Biological Survey of Redbreast Sunfish 16 inches in diameter depending upon 1936, the bluegill was found at 70 local- The redbreast, or redbelly, Lepomis the size of the guarding male. Over a ities whereas the pumpkinseed was listed auritus (Linnaeus), is a large, darkish sand-gravel area in the Delaware River at 438 places. The bluegill is also present sunfish which resembles the bluegill. The in early June the author observed two on Long Island where it is common in nuptial colors of a male 5 13/16 inches dozen males guarding nests in a colony the Peconic River. total length caught in Tuttle Brook, a where often the nests were only one or At the present time there is a good tributary of Hudson River near Ganse- two feet apart. Water temperatures dur- chance that its distribution is much wider voort, on June 17, 1932 are illustrated. ing spawning may vary from 65° to 80°F. because of escapes from farm ponds. The head has a few bluish stripes, the When of a large size, and particularly Perhaps it was scarce or absent from breast and belly are red or yellow and in rivers, it is prized by many anglers northern New York because of its prefer- the body lacks dark, vertical bars. The and is a fine food fish. In most places ence for warm water. Laboratory experi- pectoral fin is short, the dorsal fin spines where it occurs with other sunfishes it ments indicate that it prefers 90°F when are short, the gill rakers are short but has better game qualities. It readily takes all ranges of temperature are available not reduced to blunt knobs, and teeth a variety of live ha:1.s and also rises to to it. Apparently it also requires a rela- are present on the palate. Both the red- flies, small bugs and small spinners. tively high temperature for successful breast and bluegill have a black ear flap spawning. in which the bone is thin and flexible Longear Sunfish Its habitat is lakes and rivers with and fringed at the posterior tip. This weedy coves. Here it reaches its best opercular flap is much longer and nar- The northern longear, Lepomis mega- growth. In streams it usually is limited to rower in the redbreast. lotis peltastes (Cope), is handsome when quite pools. In lakes the bluegill may The redbreast is found from Maine to in the breeding state and the colors of the spend the winter near the bottom but is Florida in waters tributary to the Atlantic male are approached in New York State found in all depths during the spring Ocean and westward along the Gulf only by the pumpkinseed. The nuptial overturn. Generally it travels in schools. Coast. The redbreast is found in the colors of a male, five inches total length, Under good conditions the bluegill may rivers and lakes of southeastern New captured in Johnson Creek, a tributary of grow to nearly a foot in length and in- York but is absent from Long Island. It Lake Ontario, on July 6, 1939 are illus- dividuals weighing nearly two pounds is abundant in the lower Hudson River trated. It is darkish above with many blue have been recorded. In a few localities drainage system and occurs often but spots and vermiculations on the head and in New York, such as Chautauqua Lake sporadically in the mid-Hudson in the dorsal half of the body. The belly is yel- it reaches one-half pound and is consider- vicinity of Albany. It also is found in the lowish. The eye, posterior tip of the black ed one of the best pan fishes. The average Raquette River system and in Lake ear flap and the base of the fins are red. length in New York is less than eight George. In the Adirondack waters of the It has a moderately large mouth, very inches. The individual bluegill is known upper Hudson watershed it is about the short, stubby gill rakers, a short and to have passed through nine winters in same size as the common sunfish with rounded pectoral fin and the pharyngeal Pennsylvania and at least eight winters which it often occurs and sometimes hy- teeth are pointed. in New York. bridizes. In the Susquehanna and Dela- Like the bluegill and redbreast sun- The adult bluegill feeds mainly on ware rivers systems it is common to fishes the ear flap of the longear is long aquatic insects, small crayfishes and abundant in the rivers and larger streams, but it points obliquely upwards. Unlike fishes. Young and juveniles engulf small where it is often mistaken for the bluegill, the pumpkinseed the bony ear flap is thin crustaceans and aquatic insects, and and is also found in lakes although in the and flexible to its very posterior margin. sometimes eat plants. latter less so than the pumpkinseed. The longear is a Western species which The bluegills stocked in New York farm During the winter when the water tem- has extended its range into northwestern ponds have been known to reproduce in perature is below 40°F the redbreast New York. It is most abundant in the their second summer and all have repro- forms dense hibernating schools on or glacial lakes region from Iowa and Min- duced at least once in their third summer. near the bottom in deep water. It moves nesota eastward to western Ohio. In New It is generally held that the bluegill re- toward shore in spring when the tem- York State it is commonly found only in quires a temperature of 80°F or more perature reaches 50° or more. It flour- Oak Orchard and Johnson creeks which to spawn but there are few actual data ishes under a wide range of ecological are tributaries of Lake Ontario west of with adequate temperature records. They conditions from small headwater tribu- Rochester. It has also been reported in have been found nesting in northern New taries to sluggish, coastal plain rivers. the Oswego River system and in Oneida Jersey in mid-July at a temperature of It may vary from a maximum of three or Lake in central New York. The preferred 15 t. habitat is sluggish streams. It appears to reaches a size to attract adult anglers and Bluespotted Sunfish be sensitive to large amounts of silt and is common in only a few places. It is The bluespotted sunfish. Enneacanthus possibly its range is becoming more limit- readily caught on worms and grasshop- gloriosus ( Holbrook). is a small, brightly ed in contrast to that of most sunfishes. pers, and will rise to artificial flies. colored species. The nuptial colors of a It is one of the smaller sunfishes and male, 2 11/16 inches total length taken seldom exceeds five inches; the usual Warmouth from the Basher Kill, a tributary of the adult size is two to four inches in New Neversink River, on July 3. 1935 are illus- York. The growth rate is slow ; it reaches The warmouth. Chaenobryttus gulosus trated. The male is greenish and covered a length of about four inches in five years ( Cuvier), is brownish with scattered dark with blue or blue-green spots on the body, and maturity is attained in the third sum- spots and is clouded or mottled on the second dorsal and caudal fins. The eye, mer when about three inches long. It sides of the body. It also has from three base of pelvic, and anal fin are reddish. It feeds on small invertebrates particularly to five dark bands which radiate back- is found with and is often mistaken for crustaceans and insects and on small ward from the snout and aye, a whitish other sunfishes. It may be told by its fishes. tip to the opercle membrane, vermicula- rounded tail fin, large scales and by the The nest, built and guarded by the tions usually forming light ocelli in the emarginate opercle. male, is a saucer-shaped depression near soft dorsal fin, and the breeding male This sunfish is common along the Coast- shore in about a foot of water. The male has an orange spot at the base of the al Plain in eastern United States. In New reaches a larger size. The females seen last dorsal fin ray. The mouth is large, York State it is limited to the southeast near the nests at spawning time are about the posterior edge of the jaw extends be- where it is recorded from two localities in an inch smaller. In Oneida Lake they yond the anterior margin of the eye, the the Delaware River system, and the lower were found spawning in July. gill rakers are long, the bony opercle is Hudson River valley and nearby water- Studies by Dr. Gerald E. Gunning in stiff to its posterior margin, the pectoral sheds in various ponds. It has not been Indiana of longear sunfish displaced from fin is rounded, and the pharyngeal teeth captured on Long Island. It prefers quiet their home range have shown they have are bluntly conical. It may be separated water and usually hides in aquatic vegeta- an ability to find their way back very from the several common species of sun- tion. quickly. They apparently recognize the fishes (Lepomis) by the teeth on the It is a small sunfish which spawns when home area by the characteristic odor or tongue. Superficially it resembles the rock approximately two inches long and it possibly by a combination of odors. bass, but it has only three anal spines rarely exceeds a length of Ph to four Because of its small size and very local whereas the rock bass has six. inches. Small invertebrate animals such distribution it is only occasionally taken The warmouth is found in the Missis- as insect larvae and crustaceans serve as by fishermen most of whom might confuse sippi River drainage from Kansas and food. The male guards an area and may it with pumpkinseed or bluegill. Iowa to Lake Erie (where there are no make a small circular nest four or five records for New York State), and south- inches in diameter on the bottom in May. Green Sunfish ward to the Rio Grande and Florida. and In some cases they defend an area of northward on the Atlantic Coastal Plain similar diameter in aquatic plants partic- The green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus as a native, perhaps as far as Pennsyl- ularly filamentous algae. Aquarists have Rafinesque, is olive-colored above and vania. noted the production of young in tanks yellowish below with 7 to 12 dark. vertical It was probably introduced into New where nests have not been built on the bars on the sides, and bluish mottlings on York where it was taken in the Sawkill, bottom. In the winter in nature it becomes the head. The dorsal, caudal and anal a tributary of the Hudson River, near inactive but does not school. Ens are margined with white, a character- Annandale. It prefers sluggish waters and Because of its small size it is not often istic conspicuous in breeding adults. is usually found over soft bottom where seen by fishermen in lakes and ponds. The ear flap is black with a pinkish aquatic vegetation is abundant. Larger in- Where abundant it may serve as food for margin and the bone within is stiff to its dividuals spend more time in deep open game fishes. Many aquarists have reared margin. It resembles the pumpkinseed water. The smaller specimens feed on and observed this beautiful fish. It does in this respect but is much duller in adult crayfishes and insect larvae. Adults eat not mix well with other species. coloration. Also the green sunfish is more about the same food as the largemouth elongate, has a dark spot at the base of bass, including fishes. The maximum the last three rays of the dorsal and anal length is eight to ten inches. Banded Sunfish fins, has a much larger mouth with the Sexual maturity is reached in the third The banded sunfish Enneacanthus obe- posterior margin of the jaw reaching the year at a length of about three to 3.5 .sus (Girard), may be identified from its eye, has a short, rounded pectoral fin, inches. Males are consistently slightly close relative, the bluespotted sunfish, by long, thin gill rakers, and the pharyngeal larger than females. The spawning season the large, black opercular spot which is teeth are conical and blunt. occurs from mid-May through mid-August. as large or larger than the pupil of the It is a common midwestern species. It From 4,500 to 63,000 eggs are produced eye (rather than smaller) and by the probably did not occur naturally in New depending upon the size of the female. vertical, dark bands on the side of the York State. It has been reported from The nests are usually built near some pro- body. three scattered places in central New jecting object on a bottom of loose rubble The range includes the Coastal Plain of York and from four localities in the lower with some silt and detritus. eastern United States. In southeastern Hudson River drainage, (Westchester Angling for the warmouth is best dur- New York State it is known from near County) where it is found in pools of ing spring and early summer and it is the New Jersey border, northward in creeks and in lakes and ponds. The food noted for its fighting qualities. It takes a Spruce Lake and Cranberry Pond, and on is largely insects, small crustaceans and wide variety of baits and lures. Unlike Long Island it has been found in the small fishes. Most specimens mature at most of its relatives it does not tend to Peconic River drainage, Suffolk County. two years. Adults are usually not more become dominant, stunted and relatively The maximum size is about three to than six or seven inches long and an worthless but seems to establish small three and a half inches. Its food habits unusually large specimen is about ten broods each year without seriously re- and reproduction are similar to the blue- inches. The male builds a nest in shallow stricting the reproduct:on or growth of spotted sunfish. It is seldom seen by fisher- water near shore from late May through other sunfishes. The warmouth is edible men but where common may serve as food August in the warmer parts of its range. but is not as good as a bluegill or rock for game fishes. Often used as an aquar- In New York the green sunfish seldom bass. ium fish. 16