20 MISC. PUB. 528, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
varies with the section of the country and methods of propagation. 
Consequently, in the South the applicant may expect to receive bass 
and bluegill fingerlings in the fall of the year usually in September 
or October, but sometimes as early as August. Or he may occasionally 
receive bluegill and bass fingerlings in the spring of the year, begin- 
ning in March. Finally, he may receive bass fry in the spring follow- 
ing the introduction of the bluegill fingerlings which were delivered 
in the fall. Fingerlings of most other species are supplied in the fall. 
In the North the applicant can expect to receive bluegill fingerlings 
and bass fry in June or July, and bass fingerlings in the late fall and 
in the spring. 
SUMMARY 
The raising of pond fish is an old and widespread type of farming 
in many parts of the world. Until recently, however, it has received 
little attention in the United States. Modern fish production i in farm 
and ranch ponds is based upon the maintenance of a rather easily 
managed food chain. Nutrient elements are added to the water of 
the pond by the application of fertilizers. These support microscopic 
plants which in turn serve as food for minute animals. Water in- 
sects feed upon these animals and the microscopic plants. In their 
turn, the insects and small animals, such as rotifers and crustaceans, 
provide food for forage fish such as the bluegill bream. The forage 
fish are eaten by carnivorous species, for example, the large- mouth 
bass. Both the bream and bass furnish food for man. 
In order for the food chain to maintain itself, it is necessary that 
the numbers of forage and carnivorous fish be properly proportioned. 
This proportion should represent a ratio of approximately 1 pound 
of carnivorous fish to 2 pounds of forage fish. One year after stock- 
ing, bluegill bream weigh approximately one-fourth pound and bass 
weigh about 1 pound. Thus a properly fertilized pond of 1 acre of 
water surface will be stocked with 1,500 bluegill to 100 bass fingerlings. 
The fertilizer applied to furnish the nutrient elements which form 
the base of the food chain may consist of commercial fertilizers or, 
for experimental purposes, their chemical equivalents im organic fer- 
tilizers. Highly acid or highly alkaline waters require the addition 
of neutralizing agents. 
The objective of producing quantities of fish in farm ponds is 
man’s use of them for food and pleasure. If maximum returns are 
to be obtained from a pond, a high percentage of the large fish must 
be caught. The management methods recommended will provide fish 
of usable size about a year after the pond is first stocked, and the 
pond can then be fished regularly. Fish for stocking ponds may be 
easily obtained from Federal and some State hatcheries. 
