40 American Fisheries Society 



However, the time has not yet come when the pond owner will 

 give any considerable attention or care to the pond, and any 

 results that may reward his slight efforts are largely due to nat- 

 urally favorable conditions. It behooves us then to attack from 

 this view-point in order that we may supply the information 

 for meeting the present demand, while at the same time we are 

 gathering data for an educational campaign for the better care 

 and utilization of small ponds for increased production. 



Accordingly, experiments are being carried on to furnish 

 information as to the best combination or combinations of fishes 

 for best results, and the greatest number of fishes a pond of given 

 size can support for an optimum growth, with and without 

 artificial feeding. In one of our ponds (0.224 acres in area) origi- 

 nally stocked in 1914 with adult large-mouth black bass, crappie 

 and bluegills, the bluegills have practically taken possession of the 

 pond. The experiment was permitted to run along for a period of 

 three years without an increase or decrease in the stock, save by 

 natural causes, but an inventory was made each fall. Originally 

 stocked with 30 large-mouth black bass, 45 crappie and 40 bluegills, 

 this pond yielded a total of 103 bass, 12 crappie and 3,945 bluegills 

 when drained in the fall of 1916, after having run for three seasons. 

 This year the number of bluegills was reduced to 1,500 and the 

 experiment carried on as before except that since July 1 five 

 pounds of fish are taken from the pond weekly. The object is to 

 determine whether or not such a pond when once well stocked 

 will be self sustaining when subjected to regular fishing. 



Experiments in the rearing of large-mouth bass together with 

 bluegills have been carried on for comparison with the results 

 obtained with bass alone. While no final and conclusive state- 

 ment can be made, the indications are that the best results can 

 be obtained with bass alone. This year we are carrying on 

 additional experiments with bass and the orange-spotted sunfish 

 together. In another pond we are carrying over yearling bass, 

 bluegills and buffalofish. The logical combination would seem 

 to be such fish as the bass, crappie and bluegills, with some form 

 that feeds largely on the bottom, such as the bullhead, buffalo or 

 golden shiner. Within a few years we hope to be in position to 

 give some very definite information relative to the kind and number 

 of fish best suited to a pond of a given type and area. 



