50 FISH CULTURE 



and care for the fry themselves. It is even 

 possible to leave the young in the same ponds 

 with the adults, until, through growth, over- 

 crowding is evident. Some cannibalism will 

 naturally follow this method, but usually not to 

 a serious extent. It is confined almost wholly 

 to the older fish. This is true especially of the 

 long-eared and bluegill sun-fishes. However, 

 as the sun-fish is so prolific, and the propor- 

 tion of eggs naturally fertilised so very large, 

 some may be spared to supply the maws of the 

 parents, and yet leave enough to make a good 

 showing for the fish-culturist. 



The habits of rock-bass, calico-bass and sun- 

 fishes, just before breeding time, during this 

 period and after it, are very similar to those 

 of the black bass, with the exception that the 

 sun-fish is more inclined to polygamy; and that 

 none of the three named has as strongly de- 

 veloped cannibalistic habits as the black bass. 

 The rock-bass is more apt to devour its young, 

 and these young are more likely to eat each 

 other, than are any of the sun-fishes. The 

 calico-bass seems to hanker the least for the 

 flesh of its kind. A pisciculturist may there- 



