72 CALIFPRKIA PISH AND GAME 



Both observers conclude that although manj- young fish may come 

 from natural spawning above the racks, there is great destruction as the 

 result of varying levels of the river Avater. If fairly constant water 

 levels were maintained, much natural spawning might be permitted in 

 that part of the stream. 



It follows that the plant at Pall Creek should be enlarged until 

 it is capable of caring for all of the eggs that might usually be taken 

 at the Klamathon racks. With ample justification for expansion there, 

 improvements are being made as rapidly as funds will permit. Tlie 

 improvements are of such a nature as not to become obsolete in the 

 event of the erection of a high dam somewhat farther down the 

 river. — /. 0. Snyder, Division of Fish and Game, San Francisco, 

 November 1, 1933. 



REPORT ON BLACK BASS PROPAGATION WORK 



One year of actual experimental work in the propagation of small- 

 mouth black bass has been completed by the Bureau of Fish Culture, 

 and a brief summary of its accomplishment is of interest. 



At the outset it may be noted that the artificial propagation of this 

 particular fish is generally conceded to be one of the most difficult, 

 hazardous and expensive of any which confronts the fish culturist, and 

 further that at no place has its culture gone very far beyond the 

 experimental stage. Moreover, we are attempting the work here in the 

 west far from the native habitat of the species, and in a region where 

 it does not at present thrive well in nature. 



In the propagation of this bass, certain difficulties present them- 

 selves. 



First, eggs can not be collected from wild fish and artificially 

 fertilized as in the case of trout. Brood fish must be held under semi- 

 natural conditions and allowed to pair and spawn over gravel nests 

 in brood ponds. 



Second, the newly hatched bass begin to take food when they are 

 but a fraction of an inch in length. They do not thrive on artificial 

 food, and hence microscopic animals must be provided in large 

 quantities and at the proper time for the little fish. When these small 

 bass attain a length of an inch or so, they demand other small fish as 

 food, and if not provided they will eat one another. 



Third, black bass are voracious and cannibalistic so that large 

 and small fish may not live together. Grading and sorting are difficult. 



Fourth, brood fish must be provided with live food or they will 

 become diseased or barren. 



It then becomes the business of the bass grower to be able to 

 propagate not only the bass themselves, but also several other species 

 of minute Crustacea and fishes as well, and have them present in 

 sufficient quantities at the proper time. It is evident also that to 

 acco7nplisli all this requires the services of a coni]ietont naturalist, 

 particularly in a region where nothing of the sort had been ])reviously 

 attempted. The Bureau was fortunate in having a well qualified man 

 in its employ and any success that has been achieved is due largely 

 to the untiring efforts of the present foreman, Merrill W. Brown.* 



• Doctors G. C. Embody, H. S. Davis and P. R. Needham and other recognized 

 experts in the propagation of bass have been frequently consulted. 



