Brown. — Adjustment of Environment vs. Stocking. 137 



will actually limit it at any one time. Moreover, the degree to 

 which limitation to the bass occurs is variable with the different 

 factors. Some, as indicated by the letters E. A. on the Lake Table, 

 have effect which is absolute; others lettered V. D. — vary dispro- 

 portionately with the production of bass, but as they are con- 

 sidered present far in excess of the immediate requirements of the 

 bass in the present illustration they vary only in disproportion, 

 and not in effect until a shortage begins to occur. Others in 

 the table are lettered E. V. D., meaning effect varies dispropor- 

 tionately within a short time. Only one factor affects the bass 

 in possibly direct proportion to their increase, and that is the bass 

 themselves. 



Thus, to illustrate each case in different words : suppose we 

 consider the Lake Table applicable to a lake where adjustments 

 are being made to increase small-mouth bass. The effect of 

 factors like (E. A.) altitude, turbidity, and temperature remain 

 the same regardless of bass production unless we are able to 

 change them. Factors like (V. D.) vegetation, free algae and 

 other early turnovers in the bass food supply vary dispropor- 

 tionately to the increase of the bass ; but since the bass can not 

 •or do not quickly exhaust their beneficent influences, there is 

 no untoward effect. Factors such as (E. V. D.) table fish and 

 swift- vvaLcr minnows which destroy young bass and compete 

 with them for food will no doubt destroy or impair the maximum 

 development of a greater number numerically as the bass in- 

 crease; therefore their effect, since they were already a limiting 

 factor before the increase of bass began, will be quite appreciable. 

 The proportion destroyed, however, will probably be less as 

 •efforts are made to increase the forage fish and insect life (E. V. 

 D.) on which both bass and hostile fishes feed. Therefore, the 

 effects vary disproportionately with the bass increase. The 

 last classification (E. V. P.), meaning effect varies proportion- 

 ately, applies only to the bass in certain of their relations to one 

 another; as to all other factors which the bass are capable of 

 affecting, the increase continues disproportionate. 



In analyzing these conditions as variously shown in the 

 Lake Adjustment Reaction Chart (Table II), under the five 

 divisions indicated as States A to E, inclusive, it would appear 

 that during the summer of the initial investigation of the waters 

 in question, the production of bass fingerlings was a hypo- 



