10 



For some cause difficult to explain satisfactoril}' the black bass 

 spawn generally in the spring of 18'J7. or if so, spawn failed to hatch, 

 consequently there was a very limited sujDply of fry; but on the other 

 hand tliere was an abundant supply of yearling fish, that is, fish that 

 were hatched the previous spring. y 



Under the circumstances we could not carry large numbers in dis- 

 tributing, but fewer and larger fish so far as the bass were concerned; 

 but every black bass that was so deposited was in a condition as to 

 age and size to reproduce the following year, which of course would 

 not have been the case if fry alone had been used. 



The spring of 1897 was very cold and a succession of cold rains 

 followed each other until late in the spring, in fact into the summer, 

 and it is possible the eggs of the bass failed to mature. Certain itis 

 that very few small black bass were taken, when usually in favorable 

 seasons they were abundant. The oiDposite condition of affairs'ex- 

 isted in 1898. The spring was warmer and earlier, water quite high 

 and out of its banks for a long period, and the bass fry was early and 

 abundant, and as before stated, the growth was simply wonderful, so 

 that in point of numbers the distribution has exceeded any previous 

 year. The fish were carefully handled by competent men, care being 

 taken to keep the temperature of water uniform in the can, and lake 

 or pcnd when planted. Very few instances have been reported 

 where dead fish have been found after our plants. In supplying 

 private applicants we have endeavored to impress upon them the im- 

 portance of providing food for the carniverous or so-called game 

 fishes by the introduction of the coarser fishes into the pond or 

 waters containing the finer varieties. 



The exclusive cultivation of these latter has never been successful, 

 and can not be, unless under extraordinary conditions. Under natural 

 conditions, where ponds are not disturbed from year to year, and 

 when black bass are found most plentiful, from eighty-five to ninety 

 per cent of the fish supply will be found to consist of the coarser 

 fishes which go to supply food for the carnivorous varieties, and there 

 will also be found plenty of plant growth, and large quantities of 

 critstacia. But as certainly as black bass and croppie are planted by 

 themselves in ponds or lakes where their necessary food conditions 

 are not supplied, just so surely will the hoped for increase prove a 

 failure, for the stronger will prey upon the smaller and weaker, and 

 only the stronger can survive. Many instances might be cited in 

 corroboration of this statement, but none to show that any such 

 experiment has ever been successful. 



The best results can only be had with black bass and croppie, no 

 matter when planted in land-locked ponds or lakes, where a very 

 large proportion of all the fishes are of the coarse and more prolific 

 varieties. 



A list of fish distributed for seasons of 1897 and 1898, will be found 

 in the proper place in appendix. 



