Townsend. — Private Pond — A Neglected Resource 91 



tributed, and rural populations may remain unaware 

 that useful fishery information may be had for the ask- 

 ing. State fish commissions should not only prepare in- 

 expensive pamphlets on the cultivation of common fishes, 

 but see that they reach many communities and be an- 

 nounced and reviewed by the rural press everywhere. 

 Model ponds distributed about the state for demonstra- 

 tive work would, of course, be educational, like agricul- 

 tural colleges and state experiment farms. I am not pre- 

 pared to set forth the best means of doing this work, per- 

 haps no two states would undertake it the same way. 



I am convinced that some of the energy put into the 

 production of fry is misdirected. The output is amaz- 

 ing; six billions last year by the National Bureau and 

 perhaps as much more by the states. Practically all of 

 it is hurried into the nearest river and none of it raised. 

 We are all doing about the same thing and have settled 

 into the rut of fish hatching in hatchery buildings. No 

 one is doing anything new except as connected with the 

 competition for increased output. 



Having practiced these wholesale methods for two or 

 three decades, let us now consider whether we might not 

 profit by a little less fish hatching and a little more fish 

 raising. Does salvation lie only in a multiplicity of ex- 

 pensive federal and state hatcheries? If our fishery es- 

 tablishments were equipped to raise and market one per 

 cent, of the fry now being hatched and liberated, might 

 not the quantity of food thus produced exceed that which 

 eventually reaches market by way of the public waters? 

 Let us simplify our art and teach it to the people, for 

 they can surely help in the production of fish food. 



DISCUSSION 



Professor Ward (in the chair): The place which the Society has 

 accorded this paper is sufficient evidence of its value. To open the 

 discussion I will call upon Mr. E. S. Casselman, who, I understand, 

 has had a very large experience in the building of such ponds for a 

 private fish supply. 



Mr. Casselmax, of New York: My experience has been with large 

 ponds, 7.5 to 200 acres in extent. We have used small ponds merely 

 to provide food. 



