Large and Small Mouthed Black Basses Compared
Inexperienced anglers often have trouble distinguishing between the large and small mouthed basses although the differences are distinct. The small mouthed species is generally darker colored and, of course, has a smaller mouth, and by comparing the two in the illustration (which is from the " Manual of Fish Culture " of the U. S. Department of Fisheries and correct) one can see that the small mouthed is trimmer in build and the maxillary - the thin, tough, mustache-like plate on the upper lip - extends only to the eye in the small mouthed and to behind the eye in the large mouthed. The U. S. Fisheries Department gives the following comparison:
Large-mouthed Black Bass
"Body comparatively long, the depth about one-third the length; back little elevated; head large, 3 to 3 1/2 in body; eye 5 to 6 in head; mouth very large, the maxillary in adults extending beyond eye, smaller in young. Ten rows of scales on the cheeks; body scales large, about 68 in the lateral line, and 7 above and 16 below the line. Dorsal fin low, deeply notched, larger than anal, with 10 spines and 12 or 13 soft rays; anal with 3 spines and 10 or 11 rays. Color above dark-green, sides greenish-silvery, belly white; young with a blackish band along sides from opercle to tail, the band breaking up and growing paler with age; caudal fin pale at base, white on edge and black between; older specimens almost uniformly dull greenish; three dark oblique stripes across opercle and cheek; dark blotch on opercle.
Small-mouthed Black Bass
Similar in form to large-mouth bass. Mouth smaller, the maxillary terminating in front of posterior edge of eye, except in very old specimens. About 17 rows of small scales on the cheeks; body scales small, 11-74-17. Dorsal fin less deeply notched than in other species, with 10 spines and 13 to 15 rays; anal with 3 spines and 12 or 13 rays. General color dull golden-green, belly white; young with dark spots along sides tending to form irregular vertical bars, but never a lateral band; caudal fin yellowish at base, white at tip, with dark intervening area; dorsal with bronze spots and dusky edge; three radiating bronze stripes extending backward from eye; dusky spot on point of opercle"
If the angler will keep in mind the extent of the maxillary and the number of scales on the cheeks he will experience little difficulty in identifying his catch.
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Large mouthed black bass
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