POND-CULTUEE OF BLACK BASS 23 



three at a time, and then casting in the re- 

 mainder at once. It is argued that by thi^ 

 method many of the minnows will escape for 

 the time being, and keep the bass bnsy for 

 half a day or more hunting them. This search- 

 ing for the food some men declare to be bene- 

 ficial. 



There is one important exception to this 

 rule, however, namely, that just before the 

 spawning time the minnows must be thrown in 

 one at a time and eaten before another is tossed 

 in. It is inevitable that some nests wiU be 

 stolen and some may escape observation. 

 When this is the case, if there are any number 

 of minnows at large in the pond, they will have 

 the time of their lives when they come upon 

 the young bass. They know their opportunity 

 and will seize it. They are much larger than 

 the bass-fry, and a himdred or two healthy 

 minnows can easily devour several thousand 

 fry in two or three days ; hence there must be 

 no minnows alive and free in the breeding- 

 pond at spawning time. 



