16 FISH PONDS ON FARMS, 
origin. Plants of filamentous character are preferable to the large 
regular-leaved kinds, as they present greater surface expanse for 
the exchange of gases, and, on account of their shallow rootage, are 
more readily controlled by the fish-culturist. Pond lilies, cat’s-tail, 
and coarse water grasses or weeds in moderation are beneficial, as 
they afford shade and shelter. However, they are lower forms of 
oxygenators than the plants of finer growth, and they make seining 
operations more difficult; and it is practically impossible to eradicate 
them after they have obtnines a foothold. 
All species herein described which are indigenous to the ‘waters 
of the locality in question may be advantageously utilized in pond- 
fish culture. Undoubtedly one or two of the introduced species will 
eventually drive out the others, but those remaining will be the ones 
best adapted to the environment. All of these will grow from cut- 
tings, making it unnecessary to transplant the roots. The plants 
may simply be raked or pulled out of the open waters and pressed 
by handfuls into the soft earth in the shallow sections of the new 
pond, in spaces about 5 feet apart. The bottom must be covered with 
6 to 12 inches of water during the operation, otherwise the sun and 
air will soon ruin the sets. In deep water the plants may be started 
by attaching a weight and sinking them to the bottom of the pond. 
Much time and trouble are often required to bring about a profuse 
growth of aquatic vegetation, but after a pond is thoroughly stocked 
even more labor is required to keep it within bounds. Ponds may 
become literally choked with water mosses, resulting in inconvenience 
to the owner and a detriment to the fish. They will roll the seines, 
snag the lines, and smother the fish when an attempt is made to 
draw down the water. It will usually be necessary to thin the moss 
out once or twice in the course of a summer, and all growth should be 
removed when draining the pond. An efficient method of removal 
is by raking, the worker standing on the embankment and throwing 
the moss out on land, or wading into the shallow water of the pond 
drawing it from a circle about him and building cocks of it. The 
deeper waters will have to be worked from a boat or raft. 
SPECIES OF FISHES SUITABLE FOR POND CULTURE. 
SMALLMOUTH BLACK BAss (Micropterus dolomieu).—Indigenous to 
lakes, rivers, and smaller streams from Lake Champlain to Mani- 
toba and south to North Carolina and Arkansas. It seeks by prefer- 
ence the clear cool waters of its range, and in the Southern States is 
confined to the more rapid streams. The maximum weight is about 
5 pounds, and the average weight from 1 to 2 pounds. This species 
should be selected for cultivation only in ponds of 2 or more acres 
* All but one of the cuts published herewith are copied from’ Britton & Brown’s 
“Tilustrated Flora of North America.” The figure of Chara is taken from the “ Text 
Book of Botany,” by Strasburger, Noll, Schenk, and Schimper. 
