136 



scliool, wliicli usually holds together two to four daj^s- 

 but may break up iu two or three hours if the temper, 

 ature is very high. On the other hand, the schools 

 have been seen to settle back on the beds and remain 

 a few days longer when there is a sudden and marked 

 change to colder weather. They also usually settle 

 back on the bed at night for the first two or three 

 nights. 



In the river the schools do not at first disperse in 

 all directions ; the}^ head up stream, some barely hold- 

 ing even with the current, some dropping back, and 

 others forging ahead and making some headway; thus 

 gradually stringing along out in thinly scattered lines. 



In addition to the small mouth bass fry furnished 

 b}^ the Cascade ponds, 20,000 were collected from beds 

 in the Thornapple during the season of 1S94, 73,000 in 

 the season of 1895, and 62,000 so far this season. We 

 also collected and distributed last season 145,000 fry of 

 big mouth bass, all taken from beds aronnd the margin 

 of Laraway's Lake, near Cascade. So far this season 

 12,000 have been taken from the same lake. The beds of 

 the big mouth bass are found on and among the roots 

 of pond lilies and various water plants and grasses. 



Referring again to the pond feature of the present 

 season's work, it should be noted that a total of ninety 

 adult male and female bass in two ponds have so far 

 produced 60,000 fr\^ for shipment, with 30,000 to 40,000 

 more in sight. 



