Stocking Watehs. Ill 



CHAPTER VIII. 



ON STOCKING WATERS WITH BLACK BASS. 



"And it is observed, that in some ponds carps will not breed, 

 especially in cold ponds; but where they will breed, they breed 

 innumerably." — Izaae Walton. 



The black bass is peculiarly adapted, in every respect, 

 for stocking inland waters. There is no fish, that will 

 give more abundant and satisfactory returns, and none in 

 which the labor and expense attending its introduction is 

 so slight. 



As a food fish, there are very few, if any, more palatable 

 fresh-water fishes, its flesh being firm, white, and flaky, and 

 when cooked, nutty, tender, and juicy; it has few bones 

 and little offal, and as a pan-fish is unexcelled. Its game 

 qualities are second to none, and it will thrive and mul- 

 tiply in waters where the trouts can not exist. 



There are few fish more prolific, while there is none 

 more hardy, healthy, and better able to take care of itself, 

 and none that protects or cares more tenderly for its young ; 

 consequently, there is no limit to its production and in- 

 crease in suitable waters,, save from a lack of natural food. 



In view, then, of its many good qualities, there is no 

 fish more worthy of cultivation; none that can be so easily 

 transplanted, and none that is so well adapted to the vari- 

 ous waters of our country, for there is no game-fish that 

 has such an extensive original habitat. 



Every attempt that has been made, intelligently, to stock 

 suitable waters with the black bass, has been crowned with 

 signal success, which, unfortunately, has not been the case 



