30 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



In the clear, shallow waters where these fish make their nests, the 

 spawning activities of the various species may be observed by interested 

 onlookers. For this reason, it is an easy matter to determine the 

 proper seasonal limitations and to tell when the open season should 

 be declared. Because the eggs are fertilized and hatched in still water, 

 and because the parent fish protect their nests and eggs during the 

 period of incubation, there is a higher percentage of fertility and hatch 

 among the spiny-rayed fishes than in other game species. The adult 

 fish do not eat their spawn, but after the young are hatched, they are 

 frequently preyed upon by the adults. 



INCUBATION 



The eggs of the spiny-rayed fishes hatch in from 9 to ,12 days in 

 the warm shallow waters of the interior valleys. Shortly after the 

 young fish hatch, they rise to the surface and remain there for a period 

 of from 12 to 18 days during which time they are nourished from the 

 egg sac. It is during this period, when the young fish are on the sur- 

 face of the pools that the Bureau of Fish Rescue does its most effec- 

 tive work. Whole broods of several thousand of these small fish are 

 lifted gently in a large scrim net, placed in a large container and 

 rushed to their permanent homes — many times this is done without the 

 loss of a single fish. 



FUTURE SUPPLY MUST BE ASSURED 



Since the future supply of spiny-rayed fishes is dependent upon 

 the natural or semiartificial propagation of the species, it would be 

 illogical not to protect them during the season of reproduction. Other 

 states, not having the wonderful natural propagation areas as Cali- 

 fornia, depend largely upon man-made ponds. As it is more economical 

 to rescue the fish which nature propagates without cost than it is to 

 raise them in State hatcheries, the bureau thus occupies an important 

 position in maintaining the supply of perch and bass and other of 

 'the species. 



SMALL MOUTH BLACK BASS PROPAGATION 



In addition to the rescue work and to advance the interest taken 

 in the introduction of small mouth black bass into the waters of Cali- 

 fornia, the bureau has used all possible effort to secure breeding stock 

 and has succeeded in collecting 4225 fingerling bass of this species. 



A number of these fish were distributed into other suitable waters, 

 the balance were the main source of supply for the new propagating 

 ponds recently laid out at Friant, Fresno County. Today, there are 

 very few streams or lakes in the State where small mouth black bass 

 are found. They are most predaceous of all our inland fresh water 

 fishes. 



There is in the office of the bureau, at Sacramento, a small mouth 

 black bass 15 inches in length which was choked to death in an attempt 

 to swallow a sunfish 6| inches long. 



COOPERATION IN MOSQUITO CONTROL 



The introduction into this State some years ago of the mosquito 

 fish {Ganibusia affinis) commonly called top minnow has resulted in a 



