American Fisheries Society. 121 
President: I would like to ask whether these old bass leay- 
ing the females indicates any human proclivities. (Laughter.) 
Mr. Clark: We had an occurrence of that kind in a pond at 
Northville this year. The fry were nearly ready to rise when 
another female came and spawned on the same nest. Of course, 
it was necessary, in order to catch the fry that were rising, to 
put a screen over the nest, and the second lot of eggs died. 
Mr. Titcomb: I want to ask Prof. Reighard if he thinks 
that the same male performed family duties for all three litters 
on one nest. 
Prof. Reighard: I think that is very likely. I have known 
it to have taken place with the sunfish, and Mr. Lydell can tell 
you of one case where the same thing occurred with a bass. 
Mr. Lydell: I have had several cases where the same male 
has taken care of two broods, and one where he has. taken care 
of three broods, but not all at the same time. The fry after they 
arose were screened and taken away from him, then another 
female came on at once and we had a third lot of fry the same 
season. He was marked, everybody knew him and he would 
feed out of your hand. He had the whole pond to himself, and 
had an outlet to a big pond, and he actually reared three schools 
of fry in one season. The second was not as large as the first 
and the third was still smaller but in each instance we took the 
fry away from him. That applies to all males at Mill Creek. 
They receive the females as fast as they come. (Laughter.) 
Mr. Titcomb: Last night Prof. Reighard spoke of the sun- 
fish, when the second female appeared, cleaning off the nest 
which had the eggs on it. In the case of bass it is apparent 
that the male does not so readily oust the first family of young 
when he performs his duties with the second female. They 
clean off but once, I think. 
Prof. Reighard: I do not know whether they ever clean the 
second time. 
Mr. Bean: I wonder whether Mr. Titcomb or Mr. Meehan 
can give us any explanation of the unusual production of small 
mouth bass in these Pennsylvania lakes. 
