Foster. — White Perch Propagation 161 



operation the fish, which as a rule lie in a deep pool some 50 yards 

 above, suddenly took the notion of returning to Compass Lake, 

 as had the former school. 



A few days later a number of fish descended into the stream 

 from Dobsis Lake, remained less than 24 hours and departed. A 

 large school was noted along the shore of Dobsis Lake, some two 

 miles from the dam. These remained in a limited area for some 

 time, but were gone when we returned with nets. 



The schools entering Dobsis Stream from both Dobsis and 

 Compass Lakes, as well as fish secured from along the shores of 

 the Lakes, showed all degrees of ripeness, from fish so green that 

 it was impossible to determine the sex, to ripe fish. The foregoing 

 would indicate that, unlike most fish of fresh water, the white 

 perch has no preference as to spawning place or conditions; 

 individuals in the school depositing their eggs wherever the school 

 may happen to be. In fact, it was determined by opening a 

 number of females at various times, that the eggs mature a few at a 

 time over a period variously estimated at from 10 days to 3 weeks. 

 Females would be stripped of a goodly quantity of fine ripe eggs 

 and when opened would show at least one-third of the eggs which 

 had not as yet separated from the ovaries. It is therefore reason- 

 able to suppose, considering the movements of the schools, that a 

 given individual may deposit its eggs at points miles distant. 



Both web enclosures and wooden crates were used for retaining 

 pounds and many experiments were made as to the number it 

 would be possible to hold to a given space, and the proper flow of 

 water through the pounds. All endeavors to empound these 

 fish, however, resulted in failure. It was further found that the 

 eggs secured from fish held for not more than 24 hours were of good 

 quality; fish held from 24 to 48 hours produced eggs of only fair 

 quality; from 48 to 72 hours, the eggs secured were practically 

 worthless, and fish that were too green to ripen within that time 

 failed to mature, the eggs hardened in the abdomen and the fish 

 rapidly became blotched with fungus. Extreme care in handling 

 and the most favorable empounding conditions failed to improve 

 the results obtained. The males appeared slightly more hardy 

 than females; after a few days, however, the milt would congeal 

 and be valueless for fertilization. Just previous to the close of 

 operations it was learned that experiments conducted by the 



