42 FISH CULTUEE 



as lie can catch. The young bass that escape 

 have learned in a rude school what to expect 

 from older fish, and, their instinct suddenly de- 

 veloped by the object-lesson they have had, 

 proceed at once to imitate their parent by try- 

 ing to devour each other. Very rapidly the 

 smaller and weaker succumb to the superior 

 strength and speed of the larger. It is a 

 struggle for existence and the survival of the 

 strongest. 



No amount of food given is sufficient to en- 

 tirely conquer this instinct of cannibalism. 

 On one occasion 20,000 fingerlings were placed 

 in a pond in July, to be retained there until 

 October. They were fed six times a day, with 

 ground fish, which they ate ravenously, and it 

 was estimated that each day there was given 

 about three times their aggregate weight in 

 food; yet despite the quantity of food given 

 and the oversight exercised, when they were 

 counted the 20,000 fish in July had dwindled to 

 11,000 in October. Those which survived had 

 grown wonderfully. None was less than four 

 inches in length, and some were over seven 

 inches. 



