150 American Fisheries Society 



ditions play their part and produce the proper conditions for 

 both the blooming of the tree and the spawning of fish. 

 And as for the sturgeon, they follow the herring for the sake 

 of their spawn, on which they feed, taking as they do their 

 food by suction. The spawn of herring or any other fish 

 makes an appetizing meal. These conditions, however, give 

 rise to the idea that when the dogwood blooms there will be 

 a run of herring and sturgeon. This nearly always proves 

 to be true. The dogwood sign does for the fishermen, but 

 they fail to realize that fish do not spawn until water tem- 

 peratures become suitable, and that the spawning season 

 varies with atmospheric conditions controlling to a great 

 extent both water temperatures and the blooming of plants 

 and trees. 



Next I will give some brief observations as to the nest- 

 ing of black bass. I am sure that the male does not in all 

 cases build the nest; he is quite often helped by the female, 

 for when the season and conditions of water come around 

 they pair off like many birds and water-fowl and both 

 assist in building the nest. But it might so happen, and 

 often does actually occur in pond culture that in stocking 

 the ponds the fish are not evenly paired — possibly more 

 males than females — and the unpaired male has to work 

 alone. After completing his nest he- must look up a female, 

 taking possibly some weaker brother's mate and thus causing 

 the fights we so often witness without realizing the exact 

 cause. The same may occur if females predominate. I 

 further believe that when conditions of fish and water are 

 right a male or female without a mate will nest and spawn, 

 and that is why we so often see a nest with nothing on it, 

 or a nest with the entire lot of eggs worthless. I firmly be- 

 lieve that nature asserts herself more strongly in the lower 

 orders of life than in the higher types, and I feel sure that 

 unless fish find the right location and suitable water condi- 

 tions the results from spawning will be rendered abortive. 



Now for some hints on pond building. I will say that if 

 I were to lay out another pond-cultural station, 1 would not 



