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39-524: A historic landmark on the island, "The Towers", was long known as "Dark Island Castle" until recently renamed "Singer Castle". The island is situated only a few yards south of the Canada-United States border that runs along the river. The castle features 28 rooms, including bedrooms, bathrooms, a large Drawing Room, library, and kitchen. Within the walls is a network of secret passageways that are accessible from various locations, one of which

78-565: A "private residence, corporate retreat or hunting lodge." Interest came from as far as Japan, but the property remained unsold until acquired in 2001 by Dark Island Tours, Inc., a venture of German businessman Farhad Vladi and two European business partners. Vladi also operates Vladi Private Islands GmbH, real estate company based in Hamburg, Germany that specializes in selling islands. Dark Island Tours, Inc. undertook an extensive campaign of restoration and adaptation in order to open Dark Island to

117-545: A diet consisting almost entirely of smaller fish like shad , yellow perch , ciscoes , suckers , shiners , other cyprinids , freshwater silversides , and sunfish (such as bluegill and green sunfish ). It also consumes younger members of larger fish species, such as catfish , trout , walleye , white bass , striped bass , and even smaller black bass. Among the crayfish species preyed upon include Faxonius difficilis , F. harrisonii , F. hartfieldi , and Procambarus clarkii . Prey items can be as large as 50% of

156-533: A higher aerobic scope, potentially providing them with more energy for growth, reproduction, and responding to environmental change. Another study found that maternal exposure to the stress hormone cortisol resulted in a lower responsiveness to angling stressors in their progeny . These studies in tandem provide evidence that repeated exposure to stress hormones and high angling pressure can bring out suboptimal phenotypes in largemouth bass populations. Boldt Castle Too Many Requests If you report this error to

195-551: A hook" angling towards fishing with artificial lures and strategies. It is often the case that recreational fishermen become "addicted to fishing" shortly after they make largemouth bass their target species. The cultural implications of largemouth bass are quite significant, as there are even competitions and tournaments specifically targeting largemouth bass in North America. The largemouth bass has been introduced into many other regions and countries due to its popularity as

234-411: A popular live bait used to catch trophy bass, especially when they are sluggish in the heat of summer or in the cold of winter. Largemouth bass usually hang around big patches of weeds and other shallow water cover. These fish are very capable of surviving in a wide variety of climates and waters. They are perhaps one of the world's most tolerant freshwater fish. The world record largemouth according to

273-583: A sport fish and tolerance to urban environments. It causes the decline, displacement or extinctions of species in its new habitat through predation and competition, for example in Namibia . They are also an invasive species in the Canadian province of New Brunswick , and are on the watch list across much of the far northern US and Canada. In colder waters, these fish are often a danger to native fish fry such as salmon and trout. They have also been blamed for

312-614: A study done in Japan showed that the introduction of both largemouth bass and bluegill into farm ponds have caused increases in the numbers of benthic organisms, resulting from the predation on fishes, crustaceans, and nymphal odonates by the bass. The largemouth bass has been causing sharp decreases in native fish populations in Japan since 1996, especially in bitterling fish in Lake Izunuma-Uchinuma . To better understand

351-609: Is a carnivorous freshwater ray-finned fish in the Centrarchidae (sunfish) family, native to the eastern and central United States , southeastern Canada and northern Mexico . It is known by a variety of regional names, such as the widemouth bass , bigmouth bass , black bass , bucketmouth , largie , Potter's fish , Florida bass , Florida largemouth , green bass , bucketmouth bass , green trout , Gilsdorf bass , Oswego bass , LMB , and southern largemouth and northern largemouth . The largemouth bass, as it

390-453: Is a panel in the library that, at one time, could be opened by pulling a specific book from a nearby shelf, triggering the locking mechanism. The south side of the island is only about one hundred feet from the shipping channel, and cargo ships frequently pass the island. Because of the depth of the channel on one side, and the relative shallowness on the other, it is very good for sport fishing of largemouth bass and northern pike . Most of

429-468: Is an olive-green to greenish gray fish, marked by a series of dark, sometimes black, blotches forming a jagged horizontal stripe along each flank. The upper jaw ( maxilla ) of a largemouth bass extends beyond the rear margin of the orbit . The largemouth bass is the largest of the black basses , reaching a maximum recorded overall length of 29.5 in (75 cm) and a maximum unofficial weight of 25 lb 1 oz (11.4 kg). Sexual dimorphism

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468-421: Is cover for their nest, such as roots or twigs. After finishing the nest, the males swim near the nest looking for a female to mate with. After one is found, the two bass swim around the nest together, turning their bodies so that the eggs and sperm that are being released will come in contact on the way down to the nest. Bass will usually spawn twice per spring, with some spawning three or four times, although this

507-650: Is found, with the female larger than the male. Largemouth bass prefer habitats with abundant littoral vegetation and generally maintain relatively small home ranges in lakes. They have an average lifespan of 10 to 16 years in the wild. Juvenile largemouth bass consumes mostly small bait fish , scuds , water fleas , copepods , small shrimp , and insects. Adults consume smaller fish ( bluegill , banded killifish , minnows , juvenile bass), shad , worms , snails , crawfish , frogs , snakes , and salamanders . In larger lakes and reservoirs, adult bass occupy slightly deeper water than younger fish, and shift to

546-608: Is illegal to use or possess live Neogobius melanostomus as bait in the Great Lakes Region. Largemouth bass usually reach sexual maturity and begin spawning when they are about a year old. Spawning takes place in the spring season when the water temperature first remains continuously above 60 °F (16 °C) for a sufficient period of time. In the northern region of the United States and Canada, this usually occurs anywhere from late April until early July. In

585-501: Is known today, was first described by French naturalist Georges Cuvier in 1828. A recent study concluded that the correct scientific name for the Florida bass is Micropterus salmoides , while the largemouth bass is Micropterus nigricans . It is the largest species of the black bass , with a maximum recorded length of 29.5 inches (75 cm) and an unofficial weight of 25 pounds 1 ounce (11.4 kg). The largemouth bass

624-413: Is not as common. The male will then guard the nest until the eggs hatch, which can take about two to four days in the southern US and Northern Mexico, and slightly longer in the northern part of its native range. Finally, depending on the water temperature, the male will stay with the nest until the infant bass are ready to swim out on their own, which can be about two more weeks after they hatch. After this,

663-400: Is the state fish of Georgia and Mississippi , and the state freshwater fish of Florida and Alabama . It is a highly prized sport fish among anglers for their vigorous resistance when caught, and have been introduced to many regions due to their popularity in bass fishing and tolerance to urban streams . However, they have become an invasive species in some areas, causing

702-634: The IGFA is shared by Manabu Kurita and George W. Perry. Kurita's bass was caught from Lake Biwa in Japan on July 2, 2009, and weighed 10.12 kilograms (22 lb 5 oz). Perry's bass was caught on June 2, 1932, from Montgomery Lake in Georgia and weighed 10.09 kilograms (22 lb 4 oz). This record is shared because the IGFA states a new record must beat the old record by at least 2 ounces. Strong cultural pressure among largemouth bass anglers encourages

741-648: The smallmouth bass , is even more aggressive. Anglers most often fish for largemouth bass with lures such as Spinnerbait , plastic worms (and other plastic baits), jigs , crankbaits , and live bait, such as worms and minnows. A recent trend is the use of large swimbaits to target trophy bass that often forage on juvenile rainbow trout in California. Fly fishing for largemouth bass may be done using both topwater and worm imitations tied with natural or synthetic materials. Other live baits, such as frogs or crawfish , can also be productive. Large golden shiners are

780-700: The architectural work at Dark Island is attributed to the prominent American architect Ernest Flagg . His client was Frederick Gilbert Bourne , president of the Singer Manufacturing Company (now the Singer Corporation ), producer of the Singer Sewing Machine. His daughter, Marjorie Bourne Thayer, made large additions in 1928. Flagg also designed the skyscraper headquarters for the company in New York City,

819-608: The bass's body length or larger. Studies of prey utilization by largemouths show that in weedy waters, bass grow more slowly due to difficulty in acquiring prey. Less weed cover allows bass to more easily find and catch prey, but this consists of more open-water baitfish . With little or no cover, bass can devastate the prey population and starve or be stunted. Fisheries managers must consider these factors when designing regulations for specific bodies of water. Under overhead cover, such as overhanging banks, brush, or submerged structure, such as weedbeds, points, humps, ridges, and drop-offs,

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858-567: The decline, displacement or extinction of native species through predation and competition . The largemouth bass was first formally described as Labrus salmoides in 1802 by the French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède with the type locality given as the Carolinas. Lacépède based his description on an illustration of a specimen collected by Louis Bosc near Charleston, South Carolina . Recent phylogenomic studies, however, place

897-507: The effects of angling on largemouth bass populations, researchers have studied physiological variation in the largemouth bass. One study found that in areas where angling was high, there was a significant effect on bass physiology. In stress tests, bass from protected areas had increased cortisol responsiveness compared to those in the highly active fisheries. The largemouth bass in Freshwater Protected Areas also had

936-608: The extinction of the Atitlan grebe , a large waterbird which once inhabited Lake Atitlan , Guatemala . In 2011, researchers found that in streams and rivers in the Iberian Peninsula , juvenile largemouth bass were able to demonstrate trophic plasticity, meaning that they were able to adjust their feeding habits to obtain the necessary amount of energy needed to survive. This allows them to be successful as an invasive species in relatively stable aquatic food webs. Similarly,

975-554: The hook, survival odds greatly decrease. Largemouth bass have a white, slightly mushy meat, lower quality than that of the smallmouth bass , bluegill , yellow perch , crappie or walleye . Small largemouth, of 10–14 inches, can contain higher quality meat, especially during the spring. Given largemouth bass' prevalence across North America and their accessibility to the everyday angler, largemouth bass are often viewed as an introductory fish. Fishing for largemouth bass can help beginner anglers transition away from traditional "worm on

1014-642: The large Bourne country house, Indian Neck Hall at Oakdale on Long Island, which thereafter became LaSalle Military Academy . Having little use for the remote island in the St. Lawrence River, the Christian Brothers sold Dark Island in 1965 for approximately US$ 5,000, to be used thereafter by a charitable organization of religious character, the Harold Martin Evangelistic Association. The previous tax-exempt status of

1053-523: The largemouth bass uses its senses of hearing, sight, vibration, and smell to attack and seize its prey. Adult largemouth are generally apex predators within their habitat, but they are preyed upon by many animals while young, including great blue herons , larger bass, northern pike , walleye , muskellunge , yellow perch, channel catfish , northern water snakes , crappie , common carp , and American eels . Multiple species of kingfishers , bitterns , and other herons feed on this bass, as well. Both

1092-429: The male, female, and newborns will switch to more of a summer mode, in which they then focus more on feeding. Largemouth bass are keenly sought after by anglers and are noted for the excitement of their 'fight', meaning how vigorously the fish resists being hauled into the boat or onto shore after being hooked. The fish will often become airborne in their effort to throw the hook, but many say that their cousin species,

1131-415: The practice of catch and release , especially the larger specimens, mainly because larger specimens are usually breeding females that contribute heavily to future sport fishing stocks. Largemouth bass respond well to catch and release , with a very high survival rate after release, especially if the fish is handled with care and is loosely hooked in the side or top of the mouth. However, if the fish swallows

1170-555: The property (its new name not identifying any religious or charitable ownership), together with gradual deterioration of the property and stories about a complex maze of dimly lit secret passageways, complete with a dungeon, all increased the romantic mystique of Dark Island. During the later decades of the Martin period (the late 1980s and early 1990s), Dark Island was listed for sale. Advertisements appeared in high-end real estate magazines such as Unique Homes with suggestions that it be

1209-408: The property was contested by neighbors after occupancy by the new owner. They contended that Dr. Harold Martin, director of the charity, maintained the tax-exempt property for his own private use as a summer residence. Martin prevailed in court, on the basis that he and his wife, Eloise, offered a religious service on the island every Sunday morning, open to all. During this Martin interval, the property

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1248-469: The southern states, where the largest and healthiest specimens typically inhabit, this process can begin in March and is usually over by June. Males form nests by moving debris from the bottom of the body of water using their tails. These nests are usually about twice the length of the males, although this can vary. Bass prefer sand, muck, or gravel bottoms, but will also use rocky and weedy bottoms where there

1287-784: The stone structure, planned in 1903, on a castle in Woodstock, England that was described in Sir Walter Scott 's book Woodstock . Following the 1919 death of Frederick Bourne, his daughter Marjorie (Mrs. Alexander D. Thayer) took title to the property. Her ownership was contested by a brother, but she retained title. Upon her death, the Roman Catholic order Brothers of the Christian Schools (the Christian Brothers ) acquired Dark Island along with

1326-548: The tallest building in the world at the time. Flagg is known for many major American projects, such as the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland . The island's castle was the last of several "castles" built at the Thousand Islands during a brief interval (1888–1905). Bourne undertook the project while the larger Boldt Castle was nearing completion nearby. The architect modeled

1365-484: The type locality given by Lacépède as within the range of the Florida bass ( M. floridanus ) and outside that of the largemouth bass. This study concludes that Lacépède's name is the correct binomial for the Florida bass and that the oldest available binomial for the largemouth bass is Cuvier's Huro nigricans , which has a type locality of Lake Huron which is within the range of the largemouth bass. The largemouth bass

1404-479: The visiting public. Tours were initiated in 2003. Despite losses over the years, the interior of the castle retains its original character, with most of the Bourne-Thayer furnishings. Unlike nearby Boldt Castle , Dark Island always served as a private residence, until opened to the public for tours. In 2006, Dark Island was listed for sale through Sotheby's International Realty for $ 22 million. The castle

1443-526: The young and adult largemouths are targeted by the bald eagle . Notably in the Great Lakes Region, Micropterus salmoides along with many other species of native fish have been known to prey upon the invasive round goby ( Neogobius melanostomus ). Remains of said fish have been found inside the stomachs of largemouth bass consistently. This feeding habit may impact the ecosystem positively, but more research must be conducted to verify this. It

1482-408: Was called "Jorstadt Castle," from Dr. Harold Martin's family surname before immigrating from Norway. The castle's name has since been changed to "Singer Castle." After more than thirty years of Martin tenure, removal, sometimes due to theft, depleted the original contents. Due to the high cost of maintenance, a number of original fixtures and artifacts fell into disrepair. Rumors about the true use of

1521-534: Was featured in the 2000 film, The Skulls An episode of The Great Escape was filmed at Singer Castle but it never aired. The Canadian folk rock band Great Lake Swimmers recorded part of their 2009 album Lost Channels at the castle. The album includes an interlude consisting of 48 seconds of the castle bells chiming. 44°27′07″N 75°48′44″W  /  44.45194°N 75.81222°W  / 44.45194; -75.81222 Largemouth bass The largemouth bass ( Micropterus nigricans )

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