AQUATIC PLANTS IN POND CULTURE/ 



By John W. Titcomb, 

 Formerly Chief, Division of Fifth Culture, U. S. Bureau of Finheries. 



CONTENTS. 



I'age. 



Pond culture and its application 1 



Importance of aquatic plants in pond culture 2 



Objectionable aspects of pond vegetation 3 



Aquatic plants at the pond-cultui'e stations of the Bureau of Fisheries 4 



Cold Springs, Ga 5 



Fish Lakes, Washington, D. C 6 



Wytheville, Va 13 



North ville, Mich 15 



INIammoth Spring, Ark 15 



San Marcos, Tex 16 



Kesuui6 of observations 17 



Methods of controlling aquatic vegetation 19 



Elimination of undesirable plants 19 



Checking superabundant or undesired growth 19 



Removal of vegetation to permit seining 21 



POND CULTURE AND ITS APPLICATION. 



Among the fresh-water fishes most desirable for food purposes 

 and for sport-fishing there are certain species, such as the basses, 

 crappies, sunfishes, and catfishes, that are not susceptible to manipu- 

 lation for the taking and impregnation of their eggs, but must be 

 allowed to mate and select nests, on which the spawn is deposited, 

 fertilized, and hatched in the natural way. For the cultivation of 

 these species, therefore, it is necessary to provide surroundings 

 fulfilling their requirements, and at the same time permitting con- 

 trol of the fish, which purpose is accomplished by the maintenance 

 of natural or artificial ponds. These ponds are stocked with the 

 maximum number of adult fish, and the young hatch in numbers 

 abnormal for the vohime of water in which they are contained, 

 there to be reared for a few weeks or months and then distributed 

 to other waters as desired. The pond itself affords sustenance to 



1 Appf'Drtix II to the Report of the United States Commissioner of Fisheries for 1923. 

 B. K. Doc. 948. The first edition of thi.s paper. Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 64.3, 

 was published in 1909, and various reprints have heen issued. 



