130 Tliirh/srrrnlli A mind I Meeting 



small-iiiouthed black bass in oui- ])on(ls. A further report will be 

 made if any new or interesting facts develo}). 



mscu8siox. 



^[r. W. E. ]\Ieehan, Harrislnirg, Pa. : This paper represents 

 the verv latest development in small-nioutli Ijass culture, as far 

 as I l\;now, and it is extremely interesting, and I have another 

 matter in connection with it to which I wish to allude. We have 

 here today a man who may perhaps share with one other man the 

 title of father of the Avork of bass culture. If I mistake not, 

 somewhere about 1880 a major in the army, I think Major 

 Wright, built a pond, put Ijass in and hatched them and prepared 

 a bulletin published by the United States Commission in 1881. 

 Almost simultaneously Mr. Hiram Peoples of Pennsylvania, 

 started Ijass culture near the city of Lancaster, and he is here 

 today, and I think some might be interested in knowing of Mr. 

 Peoples' early work in that line, which seems simultaneous with 

 the work of Major Wright. ]\Ir. Peoples was a member of the 

 Pennsylvania legislature for several years while conducting this 

 hatchery of bass commercially. 



Mr. Hiram Peoples, Xew Providence, Pa. : I have been en- 

 gaged in bass culture for a ninnber of years, at first, merely as a 

 matter of pleasure, and afterwards in a business way. In con- 

 structing my nests I take only good sized stones, none less than 

 the size of a common marljle up to the size of a walnut, and 

 larger. I place these nests around my pond, not closer than fif- 

 teen feet apart, and in Avater say from eighteen inches to two feet 

 deep ; and I have, always succeeded in raising all the bass I need- 

 ed. In fact I have been able to supply all demands. 



I have never taken the spawn right from the nest, Imt I have 

 taken the small Ijass innnediately after Ix'ing hatched, and placed 

 them in adjacent ponds, Imt never liad any success. I always 

 had to keep my bass until partly matured. 



I never had any trouble with fungus or any disease in the 

 ponds. I can drain my ponds in two days and put fresh water 

 in, but I do not generally do that. I drain every spring and fall. 



I ship my bass from the 15th of June till the 10th of August. 



