116 American Fisheries Society 



efficient bass culturist what the clover field or pasture is 

 to the successful stock raiser, and the efficient fish cul- 

 turist looks to it as the key to ultimate success. With 

 this object in view, the most important factor is an 

 abundance of vegetation in the rearing pond. 



Next to the supply of clear water in the spawning pond 

 the most important requisite in bass culture is the aquatic 

 vegetation in the rearing pond, and its abundance. 

 Though the pond should contain an abundance of food 

 for the young bass, a deficiency in vegetation will lead 

 them to prey upon each other in preference to taking 

 such ideal food as gammarus, or fresh water shrimp. 

 Aquatic vegetation not only makes this food available 

 for the young bass, but it serves as a protection against 

 cannibalism. 



These conditions being provided, when the fry are 

 ready to be taken from the spawning pond, the rearing 

 pond will be well suplied with such food as daphnia, or 

 water flea, and as these become exhausted and the young 

 bass require larger food, the gammarus or fresh water 

 shrimp is available. 



In case the rearing pond should be over crowded with 

 young bass, and the animal life may not be sufficient to 

 rear all of them to good sized fingerlings, a good idea is 

 to seine out part of them for distribution after they 

 have reached the size of number one fingerlings, but good 

 sized fingerlings are superior, as they are more able to 

 take care of themselves, in escaping cannibalism of other 

 fishes, and finding food. 



Summing up, if these requisites are maintained the fish 

 culturist should not fail. 



Clear water in the spawning pond of proper minimum 

 temperature and ingredients. 



Adults always well fed and in good condition. 



Spawning pond large enough to contain nests for all 

 the adults. 



Enough rearing ponds so that fry of different ages 

 may be placed in different ponds, and these ponds well 

 supplied with aquatic vegetation. 



