Only 210 ponds reported "Other" fish taken. Most of these were 

 catfish, principally channel catfish and bullheads. Replies on "size 

 most frequently caught" were not siiitable for tabulation or analysis. 



(6) Quality of fishing 



The owner's evaluation of the quality of fishing afforded is 

 one of the most significant features of the survey. Three categories 

 were proposed: excellent, satisfactory, and poor. On the basis of 

 the entire sample, 20.2 percent considered fishing to be excellent, 

 6l.h percent satisfactory, and l4.2 percent poor. The standard was 

 the owner's opinion and was relative to the quality of fishing 

 available in the local community. This evaluation is encouraging 

 and indicates a level of success approaching 82 percent achieved 

 in the farm pond program. 



Some information on the reasons why ik percent of the ponds 

 were providing poor or unsatisfactory fishing was obtained. "Too 

 many small bluegills" was the most common complaint. 'Excessive 

 mud and silt ranked second. The presence of wild fish was men- 

 tioned frequently, although wild fish were also reported from 

 many ponds providing satisfactory fishing. An interesting reason 

 was given by 11 of the unhappy pond owners - "Too little fishing." 

 This might be credited to the presence of other waters with better 

 fishing in the neighborhood. (See Table 3 for other reasons given.) 



Aquatic weeds were a problem in only three ponds, probably 

 reflecting the youth of the ponds and the relatively high standards 

 followed in pond location and construction. 



(T) Condition of hatchery fish 



Apparently, the fish were received from the hatcheries in good 

 condition; at least 99 percent of the pond owners thought so. This 

 reflects the care given to the small fish in distribution by hatch- 

 ery personnel. Likewise, 97 percent of the pond owners believed 

 the hatchery fish survived following their release in the pond. 

 Undoubtedly, observations on this featxire were not always possible 

 or complete. 



(8) Stocking of other fish 



Ret\irns showed that 21 percent of the 1,000 pond owners contacted 

 had added fish to the pond, in addition to the stocking provided by 

 the Federal Government.. A few of these obtained the normal allotment 

 of bluegill from another source; some stocked catfish or crappie from 

 outside so\irces; but most were supplied by the generosity of friends 

 and the pond owners' efforts. Fishery managers discourage indiscrim- 

 inate stocking at every opportunity, yet it appears to be a common 

 practice. The results of overstocking are not well understood 

 by many pond owners. 



