PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 25. 45 



in 1851 and 1852, and from these and their progeny more than 

 thirty ponds in that region were stocked. 



Much has been learned by the fish culturist since 1850, and, 

 largely through the work of Mr. Dwight Lydell of Michigan, 

 the cultivation of bass has been brought to a high state of 

 efficiency, and these fish can be raised in large numbers for 

 stocking purposes. The bass hatchery at Palmer, which is the 

 only bass hatchery that is operated by any New England 

 State, has aroused much interest. Small-mouthed black bass 

 are allowed to hatch under natural conditions, in specially 

 prepared ponds in which spawning "nests" of gravel are 

 placed. After the male fish has thoroughly cleansed the nest 

 from all dirt he selects a female, which accompanies him to the 

 nest and deposits her eggs. The male throws his milt over 

 these eggs in order to fertilize them, then drives the female 

 away and carefully guards the nest through the period of in- 

 cubation. 



Just before the eggs are ready to hatch the attendant places 

 a wire screen over the nest, and as the young fish hatch they 

 are confined within this screen, where they can be easily 

 handled. Soon after the young hatch the old fish are taken 

 out of the pond with a seine and the young bass left to care 

 for themselves, since with few enemies they do not need the 

 protection of the parent fish. Many of the young bass are 

 sent out from the hatchery as fry a week or ten days after they 

 rise up from the nest, for the reason that there is not pond 

 room enough to hold the large numbers hatched, the pond 

 being only capable of supplying food for a certain number. 

 Young bass grow very rapidly in the ponds, necessitating a 

 weekly reduction in numbers to get sufficient room for those 

 remaining. The young fish are not fed artificially but subsist 

 on the natural food in the ponds. About two weeks from the 

 time the young fish are hatched they are perfectly formed 

 bass. When fry are planted they must be placed along the 

 shores in shallow water, among the weeds and grass, in order 

 to afford sufficient protection from larger fish. 



All of the hatcheries owned by the State are open 

 public, and the commissioners desire to have people 



