American Fix^heries Soclctij ]-'?7 



tiu-al establishments to place over the nest before the youn.o- 

 fishes leave it, a light circular frame of iron covered with cheese 

 cloth, one end of which protrudes above the water. This prevents 

 the young fishes from wandering away from the nest, and makes 

 it possible for tliem to 1)0 removed with the dip net to nursery 

 ])onds, wliere they are safe from their enemies and the canni- 

 Jialistic tendencies of their parents. 



One of the numerous private ponds visited by the writer, -i 

 ])ond half a mile in length, was examined with great care and 

 found to be totally lacking in gravel areas. Although it had 

 been stocked several times with small-mouthed black bass, thare 

 had been apparently no natural increase. With a mud bottom 

 it afforded no spawning surface whatever for this species. The 

 writer recommended the introduction of numerous artificial 

 spawning nests, or the introduction of the large-mouthed bass 

 which would not require gravel beds but could spawn among the 

 alnmdant water plants. It is probably unnecessary to add that 

 there should be no fishing allowed during the spawning season, 

 which with most of the fishes mentioned is in the spring months. 



Number of Fishes Be quire d. In stocking waters it is not 

 necessary to have a large number of adult fishes. For a ])on(i 

 of aljout an acre in extent, twenty pairs of black l)ass Avill be 

 sutficient, and perhaps fifty pairs of any of the other kinds of 

 fishes mentioned. These numbers will in fact suffice for stil! 

 larger ponds and should be reduced for smaller ponds. Wh?n 

 the conditions are right the progeny of the first year will usu- 

 ally stock the pond to the limit of ihs natural food supply. It 

 should be borne in mind that heavy stocking serves no us?ful 

 purpose, unless it is the intention to catch some of the adults 

 the first year. It is just as well to stock with two or three kinds 

 of fishes and time will show which species are the best adapted 

 to that particular body of water. With black bass the yellow 

 perch may be placed with safety, not only on account of thc^ 

 food it supplies to the former, but also on account of its own 

 value as a food fish. It is remarkably prolific, and with a 

 good start can usually take care of itself. The same may be 

 said of the catfish. It is harmless since the basses and sunfishes 

 are active in guarding their own nests. The 3'ellow perch and 

 the catfish may also be introduced into ponds containing rock 



