158 Tliirtj/sn'riitJi Aniiud] Meeting 



statements, but as a further proof I make the following extracts 

 from the annual report of the Cold Spring Station made July 

 ], 1900, and I would state in this connection that the opportuni- 

 ties were better then for close and accurate observation than dur- 

 ing any year since, the ponds being few in number, small in size 

 and almost devoid of vegetable growth. The work was carried 

 out with all the care possible, Mr. J. B. Lamkin, fish culturist of 

 the station at the time, being very methodical and assisting mate- 

 rially in the work, having specially in charge the work of record- 

 ing the observations which he was instructed to make daily or 

 hourly if necessary: 



A few bass had spawned 1)efore the writer arrived, eight beds 

 having been recorded prior to that time. Up to the 8th of May 

 no very systematic record was kept as to the location and date of 

 beds, but on that date an order was issued that all beds on which 

 eggs could be found be numbered and marked with a strip of 

 wood on which was to be placed the date and any other necessary 

 data. Prior to May 8 twenty-four beds were located and record- 

 ed and after that date up to the 1st of July twenty-five beds on 

 which eggs were found were numbered and dated, thus making 

 a total of forty-nine beds on which it was positively known that 

 eggs had been deposited. 



There were but twenty-eight lu-eeding Ijass on the station, all 

 told, male and female. More than that we have two females 

 which are much larger than any other fish in the ponds, weigh- 

 ing about six pounds each. These fish have spawned several 

 times during the season. 



Tliere is another interesting feature in this connection. 

 There is a male in one of these ponds which is conspicuously dis- 

 tinguishable from all the other fish because of having tAvo 

 splits in his tail, one of them extending back to the flesh. The 

 employes of the station call this fish "Old Split Tail," because of 

 this marked characteristic. Xo other fish is so marked and he is 

 the largest male bass that has been observed caring for a nest. 

 Since accurate numbering has been practiced this fish has fath- 

 ered seven distinct lots of eggs on six Ijcds. When the fry of the 

 sixth lot were just large enough to raise from the l)ed a female 

 came along which was ready to deposit her eggs. Being of an 

 accommodating turn, he took her in, fertilized her eggs and 



