]'M\ Tliirli/si.rlli Annual Mecliiuj 



ci'i-taiii |inii(| \v;is loiind to attract insects wliich t'l'll in the water 

 in such minil:crs as io sii|)pl_y an important (|uantily of fisli 

 food. If the pond weeds, together Avith the brook-minnows, 

 frogs, crustaceans and other small fry which are to establish the 

 natural supidy of food, can be introduced a year before the stx)c!-; 

 fisli are put in, the conditions for success will be greatly im- 

 proved, 



Sjtdiniing Places. Fish-ponds should be su|)plied uit'i 

 spawning conditions suitable to the fishes occupying them. 

 Small-mouthed black bass, which make their nests in gravel, will 

 rerpiire gravelly bottom. Large-mouthed lilack l)ass. whidi nesl 

 among the roots of plants, will find the conditions they requin' 

 among the weeds of the pond. Yellow perch, which spawn 

 among twigs under water, are easily accommodated — -pieces uf 

 l)rush may be set firmly in the bottom where the water is shal- 

 low, in the branches of which they will deposit large whitish 

 masses of spawn. If the brush tops extend several inches above 

 the surface of the water, so that they will be swayed by the wind, 

 and kept free of sediment, the hatching of masses of spawn will 

 be greatly facilitated. Eock bass and the various species of sun- 

 fish which, like the small-mouthed black bass, make their nests 

 in gravelly places, will absolutely require places of that char- 

 acter if they are expected to increase and a few cartloads of 

 gravel dumped around the lake in water al)out two feet in d?pt!i 

 will furnish the necessary conditions. 



Since ponds, to he successful, must have ])roper spawning 

 conditions, some study of the habits of pcmd fi<hes is im]iin'tant 

 and there are numerous helpful books available. It is now ibi^ 

 custom with ])rofcssional fish-culturists to supply artificial 

 spawning nests in ])onds containing small-mouthed black biss. 

 These ai'e small shallow boxes about two feet square filled with 

 mixed gravel and sand, which early in the spring are placed 

 everywhere in shallow water around the iiond. Tliey are at one' 

 appropriated by ])aii's of basses set-king spawning jilares. Tlu- 

 boxes have boards nailed on two sides at adjoining ccUMiers, 

 \\hich extend about a foot higher, ail'ording shelter for the bass- 

 es similar to that which they naturally seek- under the shelter of 

 submei-ged logs. I'asses guard their nets for several days after 

 till' >i»awn has been depositeil. and it 's the custom at ti.-h cul- 



