94 Fish, Fishing and Fisheries of Pennsylvania. 



the black bass almost invariably made their escape from the deadly- 

 contrivance by leaping out of the water and over the upper or cork line 

 of the net, and it was not until this species of fish capturer found that 

 the black bass could not escape the iniquitous fish basket that it rose at 

 all in his estimation. 



So rapidly did the bass multiply in the Delaware river that three 

 years after their introduction the fish commissioners were able to stock 

 other waters therefrom, and in 1873 no less than two thousand and forty- 

 four were captured near Easton and distributed throughout the State. 

 These fish were transported to their new quarters under the personal 

 direction of Mr. John P. Creveling, and so carefully was the work done 

 that not a dozen fish were lost on the way. They were conveyed in or- 

 dinary fifteen-gallon milk cans, the temperature of the water being kept 

 at about sixty-two degi'ees Fahrenheit. From twenty-five to fifty fish 

 were contained in each can, and Mr. Creveling required six men to as- 

 sist him in the work of caring for them during the journey. These bass 

 were deposited in the Lehigh river, the North and West branches of 

 the Susquehanna, the Juniata and its branches, the reservoir near HoUi- 

 daysburg, Yellow Breeches creek, Pequa creek, Ohiquesalonga creek, 

 Octorora creek and Codoras creek. 



So great was the demand for black bass, almost as soon as its quali- 

 ties became known, and so limited were the financial resources of the 

 commissioners that in 1873 these gentlemen were compelled to announce 

 that they could supply but a limited number to each applicant, and then 

 only on the individual paying the freight. This, it is related, was cheer- 

 fully done. 



Through not thoroughly understanding the habits of the black bass, 

 the commissioners, in 1874, were able only to capture 1,985 fish for stock- 

 ing purposes. These were placed in Muncy, Swatara, Oonestoga, Mill. 

 Brandy wine,Pine,Conroy,Canton,Buffalo, Pine, Penn,Wissahickon,Little 

 Conewago, Oonodoguinet, Marsh, Big Conewago, Big and Little 

 Ohiquesalonga creeks, Susquehanna, Oonoquenessing, Allegheny and 

 Lehigh rivers ; also in Saylor's lake and Porters and Twelve Mile lakes, 

 in Pike county. In Porter's lake the bass never succeeded, owing to the 

 muddy nature of its bottom, but in the others they speedily made them- 

 selves at home and multiplied. Twelve Mile pond ; indeed, being now 

 well known as far away as central New York for its bass-fishing quali- 

 ties. 



As may be supposed the wonderful success met with by the fish com- 

 missioners in stocking the waters of the state with this great game fish, 

 caused those gentlemen to study them with great eagerness and devise 

 means to increase the supply by artificial propagation. This, however, 

 was found exceedingly difficult and unprofitable ; what few were hatched 

 were neither healthy or suitable for planting. This attempt was there- 

 fore adandoned. There was, however, little need for artificial propaga- 



