44 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
In 1901, fry one-half to three-fourths inch long were introduced into the nursery 
pond on July 12; on August 5 they were seined out and shipped, and were then 2 or 
3 inches long. They had had none but the natural food. In three months these 
fish, under the same conditions, are 4 to 6 inches long. 
I have spoken so far of the small- mouthed bass, and it remains to say something 
of the large-mouthed, with which my experience is more limited. It is less necessary 
to resort to pond culture with them since, owing to the habit of the fry of keeping in 
a close swarm, t hey may be readily seined from their natural waters shortly after 
they have left the nests. In cultivating them in ponds I use the shielded nests 
already described, but make the bottom of some fiber, preferably Spanish moss 
bedded in cement, as has been suggested by Mr. Stranahan. This imitates the 
natural nest bottom and gives better results in our locality than the gravel nest. I 
do not place screens about the nests, since the young fry are so small that it is 
difficult to hold them ivitli a screen, and since they may be readily taken with a 
seine when wanted. I allow the large-mouthed fry to leave the nests with the parent 
fish and seine them when wanted. 
Finally, I will sum up what seem to me to be important points in pond culture 
of small-mouthed black bass, the ponds being constructed, as is usual, on the model 
of a natural pond with a central kettle and shallow shore region, well grown up 
with water plants, and supplied with lake or brook water: 
1. Fish should be so fed (with minnows) as to be in good condition in the spring. 
2. They should be sorted into the ponds in the spring in about the proportion of 4 males to 6 
females. 
3. Shielded nests should be used, arranged as already described — about 1 to each 100 square feet of 
shallow water. 
4. The gravel in the nests should be carefully selected; it should contain sand and plenty of small 
stones. 
5. Water on the nesting-grounds should be kept constantly at a level between 18 inches and 2 feet. 
G. The water temperature should be kept constantly between GO and 75 ° F. (in our locality). 
7 . Roily water should be, as far as possible, kept out of the ponds during the spawning season. 
8. Fish should not be disturbed until the eggs are hatched. 
9. The nests of the small-mouthed bass should be screened just before the fry rise from the bottom. 
10. The water should contain an abundance of natural food for the fry. 
The processes described are perhaps susceptible of improvements, viz: 
1. Special nursery ponds might be provided for rearing finger lings. 
2. It is perhaps desirable to have the nest frames shielded on three sides instead of two sides, and 
made with a bottom; then when the fry rise from the nest, close the fourth side of the 
nest frame by sliding a screen into it. In this way it would not be necessary to remove 
the nest frame and put a screen over it, but the frame could be left in place and the open 
side closed with a screen. 
3. If the ponds were made with clay bottoms, the water supply could be entirely shut off during 
the breeding season, if necessary. 
