88 American Fisheries Society 



Reading and discussion of papers. 



Mr. W. 0. Buck, of Neosho, Mo., was called upon. His 

 paper, The Fish Farmer in Action, has already been 

 printed (Transactions, Dec, 1915, pp. 46-47). 



Mr. John P. Woods, President of the Missouri State 

 Fish Commission, presented an address on Missouri Fish 

 Heraldry. 



Most of Mr. Woods' remarks have been withdrawn 

 from publication at his own request pending more com- 

 plete studies. Briefly, the paper consisted of an outline 

 of the work in fish culture carried on by the State of 

 Missouri since the year 1879. The work began at that 

 time with various species of indigenous fishes. 



"Three of these have found special favor in very ex- 

 tensive cultivation in Missouri, viz.: Black bass (large 

 mouth), crappie and sun perch (blue-gill sun-fish). 



"Crappie are more delicate than the blue-gill (sun 

 perch), but both are prolific breeders and contribute 

 largely to the supply of food fish. One large lagoon in the 

 St. Louis hatchery has been able for many years to fully 

 supply the immense State demand for stocking with 

 blue-gills, under the surprising conditions of no cultural 

 care whatever, no artificial nesting, no assorting, no re- 

 plenishment of breeders, no feeding, no attention, except 

 prevention of poaching, and even under the handicap 

 of the constant agitation of the water produced by 

 public boating. 



"The question of black bass cultivation has annually 

 taken much of the time of this Society, but a majority 

 decision has not yet been reached. The primary ob- 

 jection to this fish has been that of its intense greedi- 

 ness, to the extent of cannibalism. In such aggressive 

 feeding, however, the growth of those that survive is 

 facilitated. The State of Missouri long ago undertook 

 to produce black bass in its hatchery waters and has 

 been successful to the extent that it has been able to 

 completely supply the demand in sizes ranging from ad- 

 vanced fry to fingerlings, and yet let the cannibals work. 



