6 FISH CULTUEE 



or three quarters of an acre cannot be expected 

 to yield more than 100,000 young fish, even with 

 a suitable number of accompanying fry-ponds ; 

 indeed, not more than 50,000 or 60,000 could 

 ordinarily be expected. 



Character of the Bottom. — ^When the small- 

 mouthed bass seeks a site for a nest it al- 

 most invariably selects a gravelly or rocky bot- 

 tom ; but this is about the last selection the ex- 

 perienced bass-cultnrist will make for his pond. 

 His first choice would probably be a heavy clay 

 through which water cannot percolate, or a spot 

 where the bottom can be made water-tight by 

 puddling it with clay. A stony or gravelly 

 bottom is not desirable, at least for breeding- 

 ponds, because the fish-culturist cannot have 

 absolute control over his brood-fish, as it would 

 be impossible to force them to use artificial 

 nests. Mucky ground for smallmouth-breed- 

 ing should be avoided, because in moving about 

 the fish are apt to keep the water muddy, thus 

 preventing frequent observation, — a very im- 

 portant feature in bass-culture. Swamp-land 

 is worthy of very favourable consideration, be- 

 cause, while the surface is apt to be wet and 



