ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 



95 



LONG-EARED SUNFISH. 



should be removed with a seine if it is possible to do so, and 

 marketed. It is important that the mature fish crop of a pond 

 be utilized and the young of the year be given a chance to develop. 

 The accumulation of large fishes serves no useful purpose, but re- 

 sults in overstocking, exhaustion of the food supply, cannibalism, 

 and stunted growth. 



If a natural lake or pond is already stocked w'ith carp, which 

 are not desired and can not be entirely removed, their further 

 increase may be checked by the introduction of black bass which 

 feed freely on young carp. Black bass will also keep other species 

 in check by devouring their young, and thrive amazingl}' in the 

 process. 



If the waters contain black bass, or other fishes, which have 

 become stunted from overcrowding and the exhaustion of the 

 natural food supply, it is important to reduce their number by 

 any methods of fish catching that will prove efifective and to 

 restore the food supply by introducing other species. 



If numerous adult yellow perch are added their young will 

 contribute to the food of the bass, and other large species. Ex- 

 periments have shown that fishes stunted from overcrowding are 

 not necessarily permanent dwarfs, but will attain a larger size if 

 well fed or removed to more favorable waters. No fishes could 

 be more stunted and worthless than those now swarming in the 

 lakes of Central Park, yet we have succeeded in doubling the size 

 of such fishes in two years : Stunted European rudd, transferred 

 from Central Park to Prospect Park, began developing, and later, 

 when we seined them out for exhibition at the Aquarium, it was 



