208 AMERICAN FISH CULTURE. 



artificial propagation of trout, and the naturalizing of bass 

 may be made to contribute to the sport of the angler. In 

 a few years, a pond of sixty acres will afford abundant bass- 

 fishing, and one of nine acres a fair amount of trout-fish- 

 ing. As the angling in both will be subjected to whole- 

 some restrictions, the ponds will not be depleted as those 

 have been, which are open to all fishers. The example of 

 this club is worthy of the imitation of other associations of 

 the kind. 



These fish have also been introduced into small artificial 

 ponds with much success. A few days since (June 15th, 

 1868) I visited a friend in the neighborhood of Newburg, 

 N. Y., and found his pond, about three-eighths of an acre 

 in extent, well stocked with bass, which were a little over 

 a year old. Although they did not rise well to the fly so 

 early in the season, we caught enough for a mess, and 

 found them in excellent condition. These fish had grown 

 to the size of a half pound in about thirteen months. The 

 margin of the pond was dotted with numerous broods of 

 this spring's fry. 



The lake bass will grow to the extreme size of seven or 

 eight pounds, though four pounds is thought to be a large 

 fish ; one and a half or two pounds may be considered a 

 good average. They rise at an artificial fly in July and 

 August. They generally come with a rush, and are taken 

 also by trolling with a gang of flies or with spinning spoon. 

 Crickets and minnows are used in fishing at the bottom, 

 which is generally done after the 1st of September. When 

 hooked they leap high from the water, shaking their heads 



