MANUAL OF FISH-CULTURE. 



171 



embankment of the pond, to build a nest on the naked clay bottom 

 within reach of the bank on which people were passing almost every 

 hour. Nesting bass should have seclusion, although those reared in 

 captivity probably fail to notice minor disturbances at the time of 

 spawning which would at other times alarm them. 



Artificial nests for bass have been devised, which should give 

 increased results in the number of fry saved by simplifying the trans- 

 fer of fry to nursery ponds and eliminating the risk of handling with 

 nets. The artificial nest is a wooden box about 20 inches square, with 

 sides 2^ inches high and slightly flaring outward. Cleats are naile(^ 



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Artificial Nest for rearing Black Bass (perspective and sectional views). 



on the side for convenience in handling. Coarse gravel is placed in 

 the bottom of the box and the remaining space filled with fine gravel, 

 flush with the top of the box. The top layer is sufficiently fine not to 

 allow the eggs to fall through the spaces and mix with the large gravel 

 underneath. The nest, thus completed, is placed in an excavation with 

 the upper edge even with the bottom of the pond. A stake is driven near 

 the nest and a board fastened to it to aftbrd seclusion and protection 

 from the sun and enemies. A round pottery nest, about the same size, 

 with a rim sufficiently high to retain the gravel, is also used. Shade is 



