From the foregoing it will be seen that if the statutory 

 limit on the size of bass which may be lawfully killed is 

 increased, there will be a much greater increase in the 

 number of fry annually produced under natural condi- 

 tions. 



It is probable that if the limit is placed at ten inches, 

 the resultant increase in the number of small fish will be 

 all that the natural food supply upon which the minute 

 fish must depend for sustenance will provide for. 



In addition to this opportunity to improve the bass fish- 

 ing by legislation which will allow more fish to reach 

 maturity before they spawn, the Board of Fisheries and 

 Game has found a substitute for expensive pond culture 

 methods which promises to be ,more productive and in- 

 volves less expense in operation. It consists in the use 

 of reservoirs of municipal water works as a source of 

 supply, not only for basses but also for other desirable 

 warm water fishes, notably the yellow perch, pickerel 

 and bullheads. Already arrangements have been made 

 with certain city officials for the privilege of using nets 

 in reservoirs where angling is prohibited. The privilege 

 makes it possible to catch and distribute to public ponds 

 and lakes fishes of all sizes from yearlings up to large 

 adults. The extent to which this work can be carried on 

 is dependent upon the number of reservoirs upon which 

 fishing privileges are obtained and otherwise limited only 

 by the amount of funds available for defraying the ex- 

 pense. It is needless to say that work of this character 

 will be done under strict sanitary regulations, having the 

 approval of the State Department of Health. 



From the foregoing discussion the following points 

 may be summarized: 



The basses are not susceptible of propagation by arti- 

 ficial methods. 



It is impossbile to furnish them to applicants in numbers 

 proportionate to the species artificially propagated. 



The present close season to July first is adequate legis- 

 lative protection for the spawning bass. There may be 

 a few cold water lakes or ponds in which the bass do not 

 finish spawning until after July first. Adequate pro- 

 tection should be afforded them not only during the en- 

 tire period when they are on their nests but also by a 

 statutory limit as to size which may be lawfully killed of 

 not less than ten inches. 



Bass fry and fingerlings in quantities ordinarily sup- 

 plied are adequate for stocking waters not already inhab- 

 ited by the same species. 



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