PROBLEMS IN BASS CULTURE AT THE COLD SPRING, 

 GEORGIA STATION. 



By Charles A. Bullock 

 Bullockville, Georgia. 



Before reading the paper I want to describe the condi- 

 tions that prevail in the territory served by our station, 

 approximately the eastern half of Alabama and the west- 

 ern half of Georgia. 



So far as conservation or fish protection, in any sense of 

 the word, are concerned, we have none. Bass, trout, bream 

 and catfish can be taken at any time during the year. 

 There is no well enforced restriction against seining for 

 game fishes at any time of the year. Under such conditions 

 it easily will be understood that the public streams have been 

 sadly depleted of their game fishes. 



The people, down there, have apparently given up all 

 hope of remedying conditions through their legislature, and 

 therefore have built, and are still building a large number 

 of private ponds. A very large part of the output of our 

 station is distributed to furnish an initial broodstock for the 

 development of these ponds. This paper treats of our 

 problems in supplying the demand. 



A systematic effort has been made in the last six years, 

 to lower the unit cost in the production and distribution of 

 young bass; and, as rapidly as possible, to increase the out- 

 put in order to meet the constant increase in demand. 



Unit costs have been kept low by having all such skilled 

 labor as carpentering, plumbing, painting, blacksmithing 

 etc., performed by the personnel. Increasing our area in 

 pond waters by one-third was also accomplished by the 

 crew with the addition of a single temporary laborer. And 

 in all labor, skilled and common, the superintendent not only 

 directs but feels privileged to share a fair part. 



While providing for an increase in the output through 

 increasing the size of the plant, the possibilities from inten- 

 sive culture were not overlooked. 



Three springs furnish our ponds with water. They 

 are close together, so the quality is about uniform for the 

 three. It has never been considered a good fish-producing 

 water. It is deficient in dissolved mineral elements, par- 

 ticularly in calcium, so necessary in producing an abundance 



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