82 Tzveiity-sez'cnfli Annual Meeting 



summer homes. Those lakes may have been naturally stocked 

 with black bass, but the persistent fishing of a dozen or more 

 anglers for four or five months in each year, with the spearing 

 that goes on at other times, has in course of time depleted the 

 waters of bass. The next thing that v\^e as commissioners hear 

 is an application from the denizens about some lake for a permit 

 to net out the suckers, which they say have grown in numbers 

 enormously, and they believe the suckers are killing the bass. 

 This is not so. The bass is a fighter who will maintain himself 

 against any other fish of even greater size. In no case should 

 the attempt be made to destroy the sucker, which is prime food 

 for the bass, or the carp, which is also fine food for the bass. If 

 I had a private water in which I wanted to raise bass, I would 

 see to it that a certain number of carp were put in there as food 

 for the better fish, and they wouldn't hurt at all if you can keep 

 them in control. 



Again, we hear someone say, I have a magnificent stream, 

 I want 50.000 or 150,000! brook trout put in that stream at its 

 source. That is the poorest place that could be selected. Plant 

 them away from the source ; put them in ponds made along 

 the stream. You there give opportunity to the insects to de- 

 posit their eggs, which are fish food. In time you have natural 

 food that will to a great extent support fish life. You may over- 

 stock a stream or lake, and if you do so, in time you will have a 

 generation of runts. You must avoid that. If you do it your 

 fish will be undersized, and that is the case with many clubs who 

 have overstocked their waters in their anxiety to increase their 

 stock. 



Dr. Miller: Would you leave the carp in the water? 



Mr. Whitaker: You cannot get them out after they are 

 once in. 



Dr. Miller: Would you keep them reduced? 



Mr. Whitaker: Yes, and I would reduce them by putting 

 in enough bass to keep them down. 



Dr. Miller: How about the bass eating one another? 



Mr. Whitaker : The bass is supposed to be one of the very 

 few fish that takes care of its young. They select a place for 

 nesting and lay their eggs, and guard them from their enemies. 



Dr. Miller : I think that Mr. Henshall states that after they 

 leave their nests they eat each other. 



