PROPAGATION OF SMALL -MOUTH 

 BLACK BASS 



By 0. P. Cushman, Mammoth Spring, Ark. 



Of all the fishes propagated in ponds none is more sus- 

 ceptible to careful handling than the small-mouth black 

 bass, and the fish culturist who knows the requisites for 

 the successful propagation of this species may always be 

 well rewarded for his efforts. 



Successful bass culutre looks to the production of the 

 largest possible number of fry, and the securing from 

 these fry of the greatest possible number of good sized 

 fingerlings. 



These results can be guaranteed when favorable con- 

 ditions exist in the water supply, the brood stock, the 

 spawning pond and in the rearing pond. 



Water Supply 



The ideal water supply is spring water with a high 

 temperature, strongly impregnated with lime, and that 

 never becomes roily. Clear water insures a good yield of 

 fry, while roily water means sure death to the eggs. It 

 is believed that foul water has destroyed more bass egs 

 than all other causes combined. The fertility of the eggs 

 will be effected in proportion to the impurity of the 

 water until all may be lost. 



The roiliness of the water in the spawning pond may 

 be very misleading to the fish culturist. If the water is 

 just a little muddy, and every nest produces some fry, 

 there may be a heavy loss and the fish culturist fail to de- 

 tect the cause, for the reason that every nest produces 

 some fry. 



The act of setting the nests near the spawning time 

 will reduce the yield of fry. Tramping over the pond 

 bottom, setting the nests, and the water pouring into 

 the pond over the fresh earth in filling up the pond, all 



