WHITE PERCH NOTES AND METHOD OF PROPAGATION, 



By Fred J. Foster, 

 U. S. Bureau of Fisheries, Neosha, Mo. 



For many years large numbers of white perch (Morone 

 americana) have been noted above and below the Dobsis Lake 

 dam, in Washington County, Maine, during limited periods in the 

 months of May and June. The following observations were made 

 during the spring of 1918 in an experimental attempt to retain 

 these fish for brood purposes and to collect eggs for propagation. 

 Unlike the white perch of coastal waters, those of Dobsis and 

 Compass Lakes remain throughout the year in fresh water and 

 therefore the peculiarities of movements and conditions may or 

 may not apply to fish of salt or brackish water. 



The spawning season in this locality extends for at least two 

 months, approximately the months of June and July, perhaps not 

 more than 10% of the fish being ripe at the height of the season, 

 with decreasing percentage toward the beginning and end. The 

 first eggs were secured on May 27th. Operations were closed on 

 June 20th, but on July 22nd the writer, with hook and line, took 

 22 white perch in Dobsis Lake, among which were 3 gravid females 

 and a number of males still in spawning condition. 



The first run of fish into the stream connecting Dobsis and 

 Compass Lakes, during 1918, occurred on May 19th, and the run 

 continued, in fluctuating numbers, throughout the period of 

 observations. During the first three days, before the installation 

 of the trap, an estimated number of 1500 perch had ascended the 

 stream and settled below the dam. These remained about a week 

 and then drifted down over the barrier net, which had sagged 

 below the surface of the water in the swift current, and back into 

 Compass Lake. 



On June 3rd some 2S00 fish were liberated between the barrier 

 net and dam, for reasons which will be given later, permission 

 having been received from parties controlling the dam to lower 

 one of the gates sufficiently to prevent the barrier net from being 

 submerged. On June 10th, one week later, it was considered 

 advisable to change the location of this barrier net and during the 



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