SPAWNING OF BLACK BASS 37 



built. A skilled bass-culturist in commenting 

 on this peculiarity said: 



"In the use of the artificial or box nests, it is pos- 

 sible that the female selected by the male may be an 

 extraordinary fish. In their maneuvres back and 

 forth on the nest, it is my opinion that the female 

 sometimes becomes tired of her confinement, refuses 

 all persuasion of the male, and will not remain on the 

 nest until all of her eggs are cast. I noticed particu- 

 larly in one season, that the larger fish nearly always 

 occupied the natural nests, and it would naturally 

 follow that there would be found the largest number 

 of eggs. Of course this idea will not prevent an in- 

 crease in the size of the artificial box, but even then, 

 in my opinion, they are sometimes cramped for 

 room." 



There is reason to believe that this opinion 

 is nearly correct, and it leads to the thought 

 that whenever the size and the character of the 

 bottom of a pond will permit it, natural nests 

 will be productive of more eggs and fish than 

 the same ponds with only artificial nests. The 

 bass-culturist quoted above, an ardent believer 

 in natural nests, said further: 



"Where ponds are small in area, it is perhaps nec- 

 essary that artificial nests of some character be used, 



