LXIV REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



young- carp early in the season and subsequently on finely ground fresh 

 fish. 



A few common tench and gold-fish were reared for the aquarium at 

 Central Station and for stocking fountains in i^ublic parks. The 

 golden ide spawned as usual in April, but their eggs were destroyed 

 by the cold weather. 



The shad fry placed in the west pond in May, 1898, numbering 

 3,537,000, were held until October and then liberated. It is impossible 

 to determine the exact number that passed out of the gates, but it was 

 thought about 3,000,000 survived, as natural food was abundant in 

 July, August, and September. As suitable food becomes very scarce 

 in October, it is deemed advisable to liberate these fish hereafter in 

 September. 



Late in March the adult black bass were transferred from the retain- 

 ing tanks, where they had been held through the winter, to the spawning 

 partitions in the north and south ponds and ponds Nos. 6 and 7, from 

 ten to fifteen being placed in each partition. They commenced spawn- 

 ing about the middle of April and continued until May 10, when all of 

 the adults were taken out and placed in partitions in the west pond. 

 The first young were observed five days after the eggs were deposited, 

 the temperature at that time ranging from G2° at 7 a. m. to 72° at 

 4 p. m. As soon as the schopls scattered the young fish were allowed 

 to pass through the gateway of the spawning partitions to the large 

 ponds, where, on account of the great abundance of natural food, their 

 development was rapid, and on June 20 the work of transferring the 

 larger ones to the rearing-tauks was commenced. They were captured 

 in small-haul seines, all that were less than 2 inches in length being 

 returned to the ponds, as it has been found by experience that it is dif- 

 ficult to make them take artificial food under that size. The indications 

 at the close of the year j)oint to a good crop of large-mouthed bass. 



The following shows the water temperature in thenorth pond at 7 a. m. 

 and 4 p. m., from April 20 to May 10, the spawning period : 



Early in April 60 adult crappie were placed in i^ond 2 and commenced 

 spawning about the middle of that month. At the close of the year it 

 was impossible to form any idea of the result, as these fish are very shy 

 and remain hidden in dense watergrass at all times. 



