LETTER ON THE PROPAGATION OF BLACK BASS. 
BY HENRY W. BEEMAN. 
Success in the propagation of the small mouthed black bass, 
IT am led to believe will be assured only by the closest attention 
to all the details entering into the work, and unless one is will- 
ing to devote his entire time and best energies of both mind and 
body to the enterprise success will not be forthcoming. We have 
demonstrated beyond all doubt that the fry can be brought to 
the advanced stage with the greatest degree of success and we are 
thoroughly convinced that they are as valuable for stocking pur- 
poses then as at any time. ‘To carry large numbers of the ad- 
vanced fry in small ponds and attempt to raise them to finger- 
lings is another proposition, although our method of feeding for 
fingerlings produces most vigorous fish, that actually make more 
rapid growth than when in the wild state; the difficulty in rais- 
ing considerable numbers in small ponds is due directly to the 
pecuhar habits and characteristics of the fish. It is natural for 
them when they have arrived at the advanced stage to seatter, 
each individual going by himself, and to crowd large numbers in- 
to small ponds will usually result in at least partial failure. 
Nature is quite likely to assert herself, and the fish become rap- 
idly reduced in numbers until the size and condition of the pond 
in which they are confined shall be sufficient to meet their re- 
quirements. Finally our experience leads us to the conclusion 
that better results are secured by carrying the fry only until the 
advanced stage of growth is made, at which time the wily watch- 
ful and secretive habits peculiar to the bass are fully developed 
and if planted where sufficient cover is at hand, the greater part 
will survive. 
It is a great disappointment not to attend the annual meet- 
ing of the American Fisheries Society. My time is so fully 
occupied with my duties here at the hatchery there is no time to 
write a paper nor to attend the meeting this year. 
182 
