Heport on Inland Fisheries. 7 



small hatching house or woodeu troughs, and covers could be used instead of 

 the house. 



The south side of the ponds and the stream, if it is open to the raj'S of the sun, 

 should be planted with willows, and portions of the stream covered with plank 

 for the lish to hide under." 



The Commissioners, hist summer, placed a few youjig trout in a small 

 spring-fcfl artificial pond in Roger Williams Park. It is worth the while 

 of those intcrcstsd to visit this pond and see the wonderful growth of 

 these fisli under the fostering care of the park superintendent. AVhen put 

 in, there were none of them over three inches in length ; in eight months 

 the}' have grown to a length of six to eight inches, which goes to prove 

 what may be done with good care in suitable and not over-crowded waters. 



Black Bass. The most satisfactory' reports come to us from the ma- 

 jority of the ponds stocked with the' black bass. Over one thousand 

 were taken witli hook and line from Pascoag pond in Burrillville the 

 past season, wiLli an average weight of 2f pounds ; the largest we have 

 authentic record of, lacked two ounces of being a five-pounder. 



From Mr H. T. Root, of Providence, we have the following communi- 

 cation : 



Providexce, January 27th, 187G. 

 Alfred A. Eeed, Ju. : 



Sik:— Mr. William H. McCormick states that you wish a memorandum of the 

 number of black bass that we have caught in the stocked ponds. As near as 

 my memory serves me we have caught : — 



In Moswansicut 330 in 14 trials. 



Herring 72 " 3 " 



Wallum 180" 2 " 



Wauchog 12 " 1 " 



Sneach 6" 1 " 



Permit me to add that the stocked ponds contain large numbers of small bass. 

 In some they are accumulating much faster than others. 



I consider the result of your labors remarkable, in view of the fact that none 

 of the ponds are screened at the outlets, and that the old bass are very apt to 

 go down and opt of them as soon as they get through spawning. 



Very truly yours, H. T. Root. 



We have numerous other authentic attests of the presence of this most 

 capital fish, now to be regarded as thoroughly at home in our waters, 

 and increasing every year, and our legislature is to be congratulated for 

 their wisdom and liberality in making the appropriations that have en- 

 abled us to i)lace this capital fish, both for sport and table use, within the 

 reach of all. 



