Part III.] Pond Fish Culture. 169 



riences and observations are really intended to answer a cer- 

 tain line of questions which are continuously propounded to 

 the Department by its correspondents. Read what the bulletin 

 says before you stock your pond with Black bass or Channel 

 catfish, or any other kind of fish; then, if you are in doubt, 

 think it over and write us. 



Birds Carry Fish Eggs, and Stock Ponds. 



Certain kinds of fish, such as the sunfishes, the Bullhead 

 catfishes, and some others, deposit, lay or spawn what are 

 called adhesive or sticky eggs. Eggs of this character may 

 adhere to material in the bottom of nests of such fish as make 

 nests, or to other things when spawned by fish that do not 

 make nest beds. 



The fact that these fish eggs are sticky and adhere to various 

 objects makes it possible for water birds, those that wade and 

 paddle in such places as fish spawn, to get the eggs stuck to 

 their feet and feathers. These birds fly from one body of 

 water to another, carrying the fish eggs with them. In this 

 way ponds and even streams that have no fish in them are said 

 to be sometimes stocked with some of the common varieties of 

 fish. This method of stocking ponds is supposed to account 

 for the fish, and other aquatic life, found in many ponds that 

 are miles from other bodies of water that have such forms of 

 life in them. 



Various plants, as well as various forms of animal life such 

 as crustaceans, mollusks and insects, are frequently carried 

 from one body of water to another by water birds. On several 

 occasions we have found live snails sticking to the feathers 

 of water birds. We have also found live aquatic stuff in the 

 pouch that hangs from the lower beak of a pelican. The bird 

 evidently does its share in distributing small water life over 

 the country in the places that it frequents. 



I WANT FISH. 



We are continually meeting people in diiferent parts of the 

 state who inform us that they want fish. If these people will 

 write to the Department and say that they want fish, their 

 names will be entered in the proper books, blank application 

 will be sent to them, and such bulletins, circulars and other in- 

 formation as they may need will be forwarded to them. The 

 Department will be glad to cooperate with these people and 

 assist them in every way possible not only to get started in the 

 fish business but to make a success of it. 



Applicants will receive all instructions necessary to put them 

 in direct line for getting fish at the earliest possible date from 

 the State Fish Hatchery, In the future we hope to keep the 

 fish car on the road delivering fish almost continuously, except 

 in midwinter and midsummer. This will make it possible for 

 us to visit all the chief points in the state at least once a year. 



