ESTABLISHING THE HATCHERY 



such areas usually abound in nat- 

 ural ponds that can be leased for a 

 small fee and will be cheap to 

 operate. Even though the yield 

 from natural ponds is less than 

 from artificial ponds, the margin 

 of profit may be higher. On the 

 other hand, in areas of heavy clay 

 soils, pond construction may be 

 fairly cheap. On such soils, nat- 

 ural ponds are usually scarce. 

 While artificial ponds on clay soils 

 may require heavy fertilizing, the 

 production Avill be high enough to 

 provide a reasonable profit. 



ARTIFICIAL PONDS 



Artificial ponds for the produc- 

 tion of minnows may be divided 

 into two categories : Single ponds, 

 such as those which utilize runojff 

 from the surrounding land, and a 

 series of ponds supplied by a much 

 larger source of water and main- 



tained for large-scale production of 

 bait fishes (fig. 1). There will, of 

 course, be differences in design for 

 each job, depending on local condi- 

 tions, so that only general recom- 

 mendations on construction can be 

 made. Wherever possible, the serv- 

 ices of an enginer or of someone ex- 

 perienced in the construction of fish 

 ponds should be employed, to make 

 the best possible use of the water 

 supply, particularly if the construc- 

 tion job involves a large investment. 

 Regardless of size, location, or 

 number of ponds built, there are 

 four essential requirements for suc- 

 cess in operating the ponds. 



1. The water supply must be dependa- 

 ble at all seasons of the year, and of suflS- 

 cient amount to exceed all requirements. 



2. The pond should be constructed on 

 soil that will hold water. 



3. Where a series of ponds is built, 

 construction should, If at all possible, be 

 such that each pond can be handled in- 

 dependently of the others. 



Figure 1. — Series of ponds used in large-scale production of bait fishes. (Photo- 

 graph courtesy of the Ohio Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.) 



