350 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



inch raesli. I looked iipon these little fish as excellent food for my weak- 

 fish; but when I introduced the weak-fish (spawning season) most of 

 them died the next day or two after they were put in. I attributed 

 their dying to rough handling and poor facilities for transporting them. 

 The balance, about fifty in number, seemed to be doing well and I was 

 surprised to find that the chubs did not seem to decrease in number, and 

 even more surprised after close examination to find the little chubs swim- 

 ming all around them without fear of being molested by their larger 

 neighbors. 



I think it was in the latter part of July, for an experiment, I also put 

 in fourteen common size sea-bass, and soon discovered the little chubs 

 were in trouble, and in less than three weeks from that time there was 

 not a chub to be seen, and as about one-half the water was drainage from 

 the meadows above, the other half from the bay every tide, concluded 

 to let them all take their chances for food, and did not give them any- 

 thing. I could never see the bass, but other persons told me they had 

 seen them occasionally. I could see the weak-fish at any time when the 

 pond was nearly emptied and the water running out at the gates ; during 

 all July, August, and September, and nearly all of October they seemed 

 to be fat, healthy, and strong. I think it was the 23d of October I wrote 

 to you that they were doing so well ; about the 25th or 2Gth there came 

 a very sudden change in the weather — cold and rain — and the weak 

 fish nearly all died. 



Anxious to be certain of the cause of dying, I had my men drag a net 

 all over the pond, and could find but seven or eight still alive ; they were 

 fat and strong, but not lively, and I had them placed carefully back in 

 the pond for further developments, and to-day I saw them all still living 

 and apparently in good condition. When dragging the net we could 

 not get one sea-bass. I believe they are living, but the cold weather 

 drove them in the muddy bottom of the pond, and, if so, I fear it would 

 be a ditficult matter to get them out; and that is the pond in which I had 

 contemplated putting the carp, should you think it advisable, and ap- 

 I^ropriate to send some to me for the experiment. 



Would not even one of these greedy fish, if left in the pond, destroy 

 or eat up the carp, and, if so, would you think it advisable to try them? 



Should you decide for me to try them, I will drag a net over the pond 

 again to see if I can capture them. With the experience I have so far, 

 I contemplate stocking my ponds in May and June with weak-fish from 

 the bay, from*. thirty to fifty thousand pounds; keep them during spawn- 

 ing season, and take them out for market in August, September, and 

 the fore i^art of October. 



In November and December I contemplate stocking the ponds with 

 all the rock-fish I can capture from the bay, and perhaps take them out 

 in February and March for market, reserving the largest spawning fish 

 if they can be kept during the summer. I also think I shall have an 



