161 



The fry are very small, and remain but a few days over 

 the beds where they are hatched, so that it requires very 

 close watching to capture them. They are removed just 

 at the time when they are accustomed to have the protec- 

 tion of the parent fish and they are all liable to perish]in 

 new water among other species of fish. The common 

 and the most reliable method of introducing the bass is 

 to transport adult fish from well-stocked ponds to new 

 localities. This, when properly done and the water is suit- 

 able, has never been known to fail. The fish do not bite 

 freely until after the spawning is over in June, and they 

 do not usually reach their new home until July ^or later, 

 so that there is no fry from them until the second year. 

 The fish generally selected for transfer are from one to 

 three years old, measuring from three to twelve inches 

 in length. Fish of this size are not only more numerous, 

 but they bear transportation better, and are~more readi- 

 ly acclimated than when larger. They are moved with 

 a great deal of difficulty in hot weather, especially when 

 the journey requires more than twelve or fifteen hours ; 

 but with care and skill no serious loss need takejplace. 

 It has been our practice to distribute these varieties dur- 

 ing the spring because we had facilities for obtaining 

 full grown fish at that season, but in most localities it 

 would probably be necessary to transport them in sum- 

 mer. 



From our present knowledge we cannot recommend 

 hatching black bass by artificial methods, although the 

 eggs if kept in motion at first, can afterwards be develop- 

 ed in the shad hatching boxes or in Holton's boxes. 

 They take five to ten days to hatch. The fish begin 

 spawning in May and complete the operation in June 

 and remain with their young for about fifteen days 

 thereafter. 



