TECHNIQUES OF FISHPOND MANAGEMENT 19 
HARVESTING 
If the maximum returns are to be obtained from a pond, a high 
percentage of the large fish must be caught (73). It is pointless to 
raise a great number of fish unless they are to be used. 
Ponds that are stocked in the autumn with the proper number of 
fingerling bluegill and large-mouth bass will produce pan-sized fish 
in 1 year. Bream fishing should start when they have reached pan 
size. Bass should not be fished before they have spawned. Bass 
will usually spawn the first spring after they have been stocked, that 
is, about May and June. When a pond properly stocked with blue- 
gill and large-mouth bass has reached carrying capacity, about 80 
percent of the standing crop will be fish of usable size. To maintain 
a well-balanced crop by hook and line fishing, a pond must be fished 
regularly. There is little danger of overfishing a well-managed pond. 
Good fishing tends to be self-regulating—as fish are taken from a 
pond, the competition for food among the remaining fish is reduced 
and they are less likely to take the hook. When fish are not “biting” 
the ardor of fishermen falls and intensity of fishing is reduced. Within 
a year, about 50 percent of the pan-sized fish can be taken out by hook 
and line fishing. 
HOW TO OBTAIN FISH FOR FARM PONDS 
Fish for stocking farm ponds may be obtained from Federal and 
some State hatcheries. Procedure for procuring fish by application.to 
State fish and game departments varies, so that the applicant should 
apply for fish directly to that department in his State. 
Applications to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service are 
reviewed by the central office to determine that the number of fish is 
in accord with sound stocking requirements. Then the applications 
are forwarded to the appropriate regional office which assigns delivery 
to the hatchery nearest the point of application. 
Applications made to the Fish and Wildlife Service may be filled 
from either a State or Federal hatchery. Delivery may be made by 
either State or Federal fish-distribution trucks. In some States 
arrangements have been made whereby delivery of fish is made from 
the nearest State or Federal hatchery, regardless of whether the appli- 
cation was sent to the State or to the Fish and Wildlife Service. 
In most regions applications must be filed before a given date in 
order to receive attention during the season in which they are filed. 
This date varies, but is usually about June 1. In a few States applica- 
tions filed in a given year are filled the following year. 
About 3 weeks before distribution the applicant will be notified of 
the approximate date and place of delivery by the hatchery official. 
A few days before delivery he will notify the applicant of the exact 
day and hour of delivery. The applicant should acknowledge both 
notifications to the hatchery official, indicating that he is ready to 
receive the fish. If he cannot appear in person, he should have some- 
one receive them for him since considerable planning and work is 
involved in getting the applications filled on schedule. The fish are 
usually delivered to railway depots or truck stations in milk cans. 
Fingerling fish are supplied for farm ponds only at certain times of 
the year. The time varies with the spawning season which in turn 
