ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 103 
fishes kept in small ponds do not attain the size of those in large 
ponds since their range and food supply are restricted. 
Feeding.—lIi large numbers of black bass, rock bass and calico 
bass are removed for safety to smaller ponds where they may 
exhaust the natural food supply, it will be necessary to feed them. 
If they are put in small “nursery ponds” where they are crowded, 
feeding is imperative. The principal natural food of fishes is fish, 
which should be perfectly fresh. For young fishes it must be cut 
and boned, then rubbed through a fine wire screen. Fresh meat 
or liver must be prepared in the same way. For the details re- 
specting the feeding of young fishes the reader is referred to 
the “Manual of Fish Culture,” or some other work on the subject. 
Adult fishes kept in restricted quarters will also require feed- 
ing. They may be fed iargely on live minnows. Among the 
fish-foods used at the New York Aquarium, are live minnows, 
live shrimps, chopped fish, beef, liver and clams. 
It is a mistake to suppose that fishes do not require an abun- 
dance of food. They may live without it but can not grow. 
Water Plants.—About one-quarter of the ordinary pond should 
be as shallow as 10 or 12 inches and planted with pondweeds, 
such as Potamogeton, parrots-feather (Myriophyllum), water- 
celery (Vallisneria), hornwort (Ceratophyllum) and Cabomba. 
Suitable plants for the purpose may be found in most streams and 
ponds, and there are many others than those mentioned. Water 
plants that are satisfactory in some regions may, however, not 
be so in others farther north or south. Water-plants are neces- 
sary as shelter for young fishes, and greatly increase the various 
forms of small aquatic life necessary for their food. They also 
serve to aerate the water, which is most important in small and 
sluggish ponds. They may be planted by tying to stones and 
dropping them from a boat, or set in the ground after the water 
has been partially lowered. The slightly greater depths—from 
one to three feet, may be planted with water-lilies, while the 
more extensive and deeper portions should be kept clear of 
vegetation. If the vegetation becomes too thick it can usually 
be pulled out with a rake, but it is sometimes necessary to cut it 
with the scythe. Willow and other trees should be planted at 
some points to furnish shade. 
Aquatic insects, crustaceans and mollusks, bred among pond- 
weeds, constitute no small feature of the ponds food supply. It 
is recorded in the “American Fish Culturist,” that an electric light 
over a certain pond was found to attract insects which fell in 
the water in such numbers as to supply an important quantity of 
