10 



cable as Mr. Atkins has demonstrated the keeping of Salmon 

 to be, from the time they first run in from the Sea, in the 

 Spring, until mature in the Fall. 



BLACK BASS — {Microptorus salmoides.) 



As there has been some opposition to the dissemination of 

 this fish, and their establishment in waters which are produc- 

 tive of Shad and Herring, we have not deemed it advisable 

 during the past year to introduce them, to any large extent, 

 in waters of the State in which they are not now found, or 

 into which they have not previously been introduced. Only 

 a few were procured this year, and those given to private 

 ponds. "We have yielded to the wishes of some of those who 

 are largely interested in Shad and Herring fisheries, although 

 we are not satisfied that the introduction of the Black Bass 

 and their protection is a bad policy. 



On the upper Potomac they have been a very valuable ac- 

 quisition, and have been the source of a large supply of cheap 

 food to the inhabitants on its borders, and the fine fishing in 

 that stream has attracted anglers from all parts of the country 

 to enjoy the Bass fishing, nowhere to be excelled. 



Since 1854, when about 100 of these fish were placed in the 

 river and canal, near Cumberland, they have increased very 

 rapidly, and now the Potomac is perhaps the best Black Bass 

 river in the country. Our reports, however, record a steady 

 decrease of Bass in the upper portion of the river, and a cor- 

 responding increase lower down. The decrease in the upper 

 portions of the river has been accounted for as concomitant 

 to the decrease of the herbivorous fishes, such as Chubs, 

 Minnows and Suckers. These have, it is true, disappeared to 

 a great extent under the fierce depredations on their ranks by 

 the Bass. It has been maintained that the Bass, finding a 

 scarcity of food, have turned upon their own number, and this 

 has caused a decrease in the Bass corresponding to that 

 which has been observed among the Cyprynidse. 



