; HABITS OF THE BLACK BASS. 
BY S. T. TISDALE. 
> 
I wILL now give some account of the growth and habits of this 
fish, derived from twenty years’ experience and observation. Af- 
ter stocking a pond no fishing should be permitted for five or six 
years. This gives ample time for a large increase, after which the 
observing angler may class them as to size with some accuracy. 
In waters adapted to their growth they will increase as rapidly as 
perch. In six years after being spawned they will reach three 
pounds, and gradually increase to the maximum size, which may 
be set at five to six pounds, at the rate of about half a pound a 
year. Very many fish from two to three and a half pounds, have 
been taken from the ponds stocked in 1850 to 1852, and but few, 
_comparatively, of five to six pounds. One of seven and a half 
pounds was taken late in May, 1864, which I had placed in a new 
pond, two years previous, then weighing three and a half pounds ; 
but it was a female fish, from which I took a sack of spawn weigh- 
ing two pounds. Another of equal length taken from another 
pond in June, after it had spawned, weighed five and three-quar- 
ters pounds. This would indicate a growth of one pound a 
year after reaching three and a half pounds, food being abundant. 
I cite these as facts, with some doubt as to their general applica- 
tion. The absence of more large fish may result from free fishing, 
and the greediness of the larger growth of fish to take the angler’s 
tempting bait. It is noteworthy that the largest fish yet taken 
appear to be those which were transplanted. They spawn in May, 
and appear to occupy their spawning beds for nearly two months, 
being found thereon late in April, disappearing in June. Large, 
clean places are scooped out in four to eight feet depth of water, 
verging on the shore of the pond, and some four to ten feet diame- 
ter. These beds are made on sandy or gravelly bottom, are dis- 
tinctly visible with fish thereon, from a boat as it passes over or 
near them. The trunk of a sunken tree, a shelving rock, or beside 
a lone rock, or bed of rocks, or other hiding place, is a favorite loca- 
tion for a spawning bed. They lie in one or more couples over 
their beds, and here for the period of incubation they keep watch 
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