188 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



quality of water and the supply of food contained in 

 them. It is useless to attempt to stock very small and 

 confined ponds of less than three acres in extent ; for in 

 such ponds, without communication with running water, 

 the Bass will not increase beyond a certain limited num- 

 ber, which will usually be the number of fish originally 

 planted; for the supply of natural food will soon become 

 exhausted, and the old fish will prey upon the young, 

 should any be hatched, until a certain average, propor- 

 tionate to the supply of food, is established and main- 

 tained. 



In the case of newly formed ponds, they should be well 

 stocked with minnows, Crustacea, frogs, etc., at least a year 

 before the Bass are introduced. It is also necessary that 

 there should be in all ponds, deep holes of not less than 

 twelve feet in depth, to which the Bass can retire in very 

 hot weather, and where they can also hibernate. 



In some waters, one species of Black Bass may prosper 

 better than the other ; for instance, in large ponds or 

 shallow lakes, with a sluggish current, muddy bottom, and 

 abounding in fresh-water algae, the large-mouthed Bass 

 will thrive better, perhaps, than the small-mouthed species. 

 But in streams, and ponds with a good supply of running 

 water, either, or both species may be introduced. 



The Black Bass has been successfully acclimatized in 

 England ; and at the proper season advertisements may 

 now be found in English papers of young Bass from Amer- 

 ica for sale at high prices, for stocking English waters. 

 Mr. Silk, fish-culturist to the Marquis of Exeter, has taken 

 over two lots of young Bass from the Delaware River, the 

 first in 1878, and the second in 1879. In a letter to the 

 late Frank Buckland, Mr. Silk says: 



