106 



NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



CATFISH. 



the pond to the limit of its natural food supply. It should be 

 borne in mind that iieavy stocking serves no useful purpose, unless 

 it is the intention to catch some of the adults the first year. It is 

 just as well to stock with two or three kinds of fishes and time 

 will show which species are the best adapted to that particular 

 body of water. With black bass the yellow perch may be placed 

 with safety, not only on account of the food it supplies to the 

 former, but also on account of its own value as a food fish. It 

 is remarkably prolific, and with a good start can usually take care 

 of itself. The same may be said of the catfish. It is harmless, 

 since the basses and sunfishes are active in guarding their own 

 nests. The yellow perch and the catfish may also be introduced 

 into ponds containing rock bass or calico bass. There is no 

 reason why black bass, rock bass, and calico bass should not be 

 kept together if the pond is of considerable size. 



Coininercial Importance of Certain Basses, Perches, etc. — The 

 following figures relative to the annual catch and value of the 

 fishes named, are derived from recent Government statistics and 

 show only the quantity and value of fishes marketed. There are 

 no means of ascertaining the catch of the same species made by 

 anglers and other non-professional fishermen, although the ag- 

 gregate must be very great. The catch is of course made in 

 public waters : 



