62 FISH CULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
several years Commissioner of Fisheries of Maine, dated Dix- 
field, Maine, March 15th, 1880. In answer to my queries he 
writes : 
The stocking of Maine waters with black bass, for the first 
time, by yourself, in 1869, has proved a great success. There 
are probably fifty ponds in the state that furnish good bass fish- 
ing, and many more where they are just beginning to be taken. 
I have found small bass quite abundant the third year from the 
time a dozen large ones were deposited. 
With regard to their effect on pickerel : in every instance the 
latter have decreased, leaving the former masters of the situa- 
tion, with a decided improvement upon the morals of the other 
denizens of the domain. We do not introduce them in waters 
frequented by trout, although I do not think they would be as 
disastrous as pickerel in destroying the trout. 
The domestic qualities of the bass are admirable, and might 
well be taken as an example by some members of the human 
family. They always look after their little ones, and woe to any 
pickerel in a sucker’s clothing that loiters around the family 
rocks. 
Long may he live in Maine waters, that is, if he retains his 
present commendable characteristics, and he does not undertake 
to count out the salmon and the trout, as some human gar-fish 
and suckers in Maine have undertaken to—to—to—well—well 
—I’m hooked on to another line of thought. Please pardon me, 
and believe me, 
' Ever gratefully yours, 
HENRY O. STANLEY. 
GeO. SHEPARD PaGE, \ 
Stanley, N. J., March z2oth, 1880. 
Mr. ANNIN then exhibited the model of an outlet for a pond, 
and made the following remarks : 
The great objection made by many persons desiring trout in 
their private pond or brook (when all other points are satisfac- 
torily settled) is, that if they put in the small-fry they are afraid 
they will never see any good results; that the fry will all be 
