42 



should be made of 14- by 18-mesh screen. This gauge 

 of screen will adequately retain the eggs during final 

 incubation and at the same time allow the newly hatched 

 fry to escape into the trough. During the final period 

 of development, the eggs should be hand-picked each day 

 to remove all dead and fungused eggs. This daily 

 operation should continue until a majority of the eggs 

 are hatched. The newly hatched fry (cream-colored) 

 can be seen lying on the bottom of the trough. Within 

 4 to 6 days, however, the fry attain a dark coloration 

 and can be observed swimming nea*r the surface of the 

 water. They are then ready to be passed to rearing 

 ponds. 



In direct pond stocking with eyed eggs, specially 

 constructed trays should be used. The trays should 

 have a rigid framework c onsisting of sides, bottom, 

 lid, and legs. The sides should be 6 inches high, 

 covered with a fine-mesh screen (24 to the inch) or 

 cheesecloth. The bottom should be covered with the 

 same kind of material to prevent escape of the newly 

 hatched fry. The lid, however, should be covered with 

 a much coarser screen (12 meshes to the inch) to allow 

 escape of the advanced fry. Upon introduction of the 

 eyed eggs the lid should be inserted and the tray 

 submerged about 1 foot under the surface in about 3 

 feet of water. A tray containing 4 square feet of 

 bottom area will readily accommodate 1 to 2 quarts of 

 eggs (30,000 to 60,000 individual eggs). During the 

 final incubationperiod, a feather should be run through 

 the eggs each day to change their position and to 

 disclose dead eggs or debris. 



A word of caution to the beginner: If at all 

 possible, itwould be advisable to purchase either eyed 

 eggs or advanced fry rather than attempt to propagate 

 them. In this way the f ish-culturi st can be assured 

 of some success and at the same time learn more about 

 the trade. 



Several factors have to be taken into consideration 

 before pond stocking is attempted. The operator should 

 decide whether he wishes to stock with eyed eggs or 

 advanced fry and whether he plans to feed the fish, to 

 fertilize the pond, or to let the fish forage for them- 

 selves in natural pond water. Further, the operator 

 should know what size suckers are desired by prospective 

 purchasers, as well as how soon he will need salable 

 s took. 



Preliminary studies in Michigan have indicated that 

 when eyed eggs of the sucker are stocked in a rearing 



