154 Tliirfi/-Firsi A iniutd M ccfliKj 



gpawnini;- mid at schooling time tlio young could pass through 

 the screens into the main body of the pond. The water was too 

 loM' to give this plan a fair trial and the only thing learned was, 

 that the young fry were mut'h larger and fewer in nuinl)er than 

 usual. 



This year the ponds were drawn in -lune, in hopes that more 

 fish could he saved. Over seven thousand were taken from one 

 pond and placed in another pond which was in good condition 

 and after thirty-six days this pond was drawn and but 2,650 fish 

 found. Some of thevse were very large — one was measured and 

 found to he six and one-half inches long and weighed two and 

 one-half ounces. 



There are several other tilings that vitally affect the raising 

 of bass, vegetation, natural food, water temperature, supply, etc. 

 Sometimes it seems impossible to get vegetation to grow in a 

 pond and unless there is a good growth of plant life, there Avill be 

 no fish; that is, no great numl^er and if there is a good growth of 

 water plants, then the prospects for fish are much better. 



There are plenty of crayfish in the ponds at ISFeosho and a 

 fair quantity of other natural food. We also put in top-min- 

 nows and try to keep a good stock of food for the fish, l)ut so far 

 have failed to raise fingerling bass in the numbers desired. 



One thing that has hindered tbi' work, has been the fact that 

 we .have been almost constantly working at the ponds and 

 grounds to get them in shape for good work and we are now get- 

 ting them in that condition. The water supply, also, has been 

 dedcicnt at times and that lias alfected the work. 



I Iia\c always been of the opinion, tliat the sooner the young 

 fisb could be taken from the ponds and placed in small niirsery 

 pools or troughs, where they can l)e constantly under supervision 

 and easily ke])t sorted, the more fish can be raised. Mr. Tjcary of 

 tlie 'J\'.\as station, is working on this line with excellent results. 

 This plan means tliat there must be [)lenty of natural food for 

 Ibe young Fit until they can be taught to take the artificial food. 



hi fnct tlie greatest failui-c in the raising of bass, is the 

 failui'e to raise natural food in sutlicient quantities at the right 

 time, for Ibe young fry. Tliere is never any dilficulty in getting 

 large numbers of eggs ;ind Tit. and if tlie tisb were distril)uted 

 when tliev were schooling or t'veii wlu'ii oiu' inch long, there 



