as far as they go ; but not ample enough ; new work along 

 these lines is needed. It will be entirely possible if you 

 desire to have it done, to get together groups of men who 

 would personally finance the hatching of fish for sale to 

 the State or who would finance the building of a hatchery 

 as a private corporation. All these things can be worked 

 out. What is needed is someone with personality, ex- 

 perience and energy to get into it and father the project. 



A Report By John W. Titcomb, An Expert Consulting 



Fish Culturist, on "Black Bass Culture, as 



Applied to the State of Connecticut." 



Nearly all species of fishes distributed by the Board of 

 Fisheries and Game are susceptible of propagation by arti- 

 ficial methods and can be produced in numbers limited 

 only by the funds available for fish cultural operations. 

 Both the largemouth and smallmouth black basses and 

 allied species constitute a partial exception, however, 

 since their eggs cannot be artificially manipulated. For 

 supplies of such fishes, it is customary in most states 

 where there is a demand for them, to depend upon the 

 natural reproduction of brood fishes held in ponds pre- 

 pared for the purpose. 



A series of such ponds usually range in area from one- 

 fourth to one acre, the shape and size of each being dic- 

 tated by economy in construction. They are so arranged 

 that it is possible to have an independent water supply 

 and drainage. Thus the removal of the fish is facilitated 

 and an abundance and variety of aquatic vegetation 

 which supports the minute animal life upon which the 

 little basses subsist, as well as performing other important 

 functions, is regulated. 



The cultivation of these fishes, therefore, usually con- 

 sists in providing a series of artificial ponds which shall 

 give to the maximum number of breeding fish and their 

 young all the essential conditions of a natural environ- 

 ment, while at the same time protecting them as far as 

 possible from their enemies. 



The expense involved in the establishment of a well 

 equipped pond culture station varies all the way from 

 $50,000.00 to $100,000.00. 



At most places where pond cultural operations are con- 

 ducted, it is customary to depend upon some adjacent 



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