

TRANSPLANTING 81 



ture of this fish came to the United States Fish Commission 

 as well as to the State Commissions. We then find re- 

 newed attempts at artificial fertilization. Thus in 1896 

 Page (1898), at the United States station at Neosho, Mis- 

 souri, took wild black bass in April, confined them in a 

 pool until the end of the season and attempted artificial 

 spawning, but without success. Failure was attributed to 

 the low temperature of the pond selected. The species 

 used is not stated. 



In the same year Stranahan (1898) took males and 

 females of the small-mouthed black bass from their beds, 

 apparently in the act of spawning. " But in only one in- 

 stance were fry hatched from eggs collected in this way. 

 The eggs were forced from the female with great difficulty, 

 and in no instance could milt be obtained from the male; 

 hence it became necessary to open the fish and remove the 

 spermaries, which were then cut up and mixed with the 

 eggs, a little corn starch being added to prevent adhesion." 

 Eighty-five per cent of these eggs were impregnated. They 

 hatched in four days. 



Again, in the same year, Lydell (Bower, 1896; Lydell, 

 1902) attempted artificial fertilization in small-mouthed 

 bass seined from their beds while spawning. He succeeded 

 in this way in stripping two females, but in order to secure 

 milt found it necessary to open the males. About 60 per 

 cent, of these eggs were hatched. Bower (1896) concludes 

 that artificial impregnation is impossible. He says: "A 

 preliminary coaxing or caressing by the male seems im- 

 perative, not only to bring the female to the point of spawn- 

 ing, but also to develop the milt. These preliminary pro- 

 ceedings are sometimes carried on for several hours and 

 again only for a few moments; if the fish are interrupted 

 or handled at this time, or prior to the orgasmic stage, neither 

 the eggs nor milt will flow, so that artificial impregnation 

 may be accomplished only during the few moments of actual 



