Cobb. — Pike-Perch Propagation. 105 



this pond we got 1,325. Perhaps that was a waste of pond area to rear 

 these fish to the fingerling stage, but it developed one very important 

 thing to me, that is, that that could be done. 



Mr. Cobb: How large was the pond? 



Mr. Mannfeld: Over half an acre, and rather deep. We did not 

 feed the fish; they fed naturally on the Daphnia, Cyclops and other in- 

 sect life with which the pond was well supplied. At the Annapolis State 

 hatchery there are twenty such ponds. In addition there are five others 

 maintained by one of our Fish and Game Associations which are re- 

 sponsible for the fish collecting at this particular point. But we are 

 troubled with crawfish. The little crawfish in this pond were the main 

 food for the wall-eyes; of course, they feed on one another, undoubtedly. 

 That experiment, however, was worth while, although we have not since 

 repeated it because we can use our ponds better for the rearing of bass. 

 We rear large and small mouth bass, ring mouth bass, bluegills and 

 yellow perch, so we need all the pond area we can get for these purposes. 

 We have tried to plant fingerlings. We figure that fingerlings are more 

 valuable than fry. These particular fingerlings reared with the wall- 

 eyes were planted in a space in the park that is perhaps half a mile wide, 

 and we have some there now that are perhaps three feet long, weighing 

 four pounds. We are trying to establish a place where we can have 

 some breeders that we can strip right at Indianapolis. It may not be 

 possible. 



Mr. Cobb: Did you determine definitely what was the food of the 

 young pike? 



Mr. Mannfeld: It was nothing but the natural food that was in 

 the water. They were not fed anything. 



Mr. Cobb: I would like to find out definitely what the first food of 

 the young pike consists of. 



