THE CONSTRUCTION OF A POND CUL- 

 TURAL STATION, AND THE PROPA- 

 GATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF 

 LARGE MOUTH BLACK BASS 

 IN SOUTH CAROLINA 



By G. W. N. Brown, Superintendent, U. S. Fisheries 

 Station, Orangeburg, South Carolina. 



The factors which exert the greatest influence on the 

 success of artificial propagation of black bass are: the 

 proper construction of ponds, the complete control of the 

 water system, and an adequate supply of natural food. 



With these objects in view, especially the last named, 

 a site known as Dukes' Fishery, about two miles south 

 of Orangeburg, South Carolina, was selected for the 

 establishment of a federal fish hatchery, although to a 

 casual observer it would have seemed a most unlikely 

 place for the construction of ponds for proper manipula- 

 tion as a pond cultural station. 



Dukes' Fishery consisted of three ponds, built several 

 years ago, the lower containing six and three-tenths acres, 

 the others, five and seven-tenths and four and two-tenths 

 acres respectively. They were located in a spring-fed 

 marsh, consisting of loose mud, sediment, and decayed 

 vegetation, containing also a large number of stumps, old 

 logs, and other debris, a large percentage of which was 

 buried beneath the mud. Plans were made for develop- 

 ing the lower of these old ponds into six brood ponds, 

 ranging in size from six-tenths to one and five-tenths 

 acres, and six cement retaining ponds sixty feet long, eight 

 feet wide and three feet deep. In the construction of the 

 brood ponds the features kept constantly in view were: 

 easy manipulation; ideal breeding grounds for the ani- 

 malculae; the prevention, as far as possible, of canni- 

 balism; the perfect control of the water system, and as 

 near approach to natural conditions for the spawning 



