Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-24
Bow 10 Stock Ponds with Black Bass.

bfeat progress mas been male in the last Eve
years IN the distribution of the Black Bass
especially in New York and in the New England
states. Two hundred or more ponds and lakes
have been stocked, and yet We are continually
receiving letters OF inquiry, which show that
PEOPLE have very imperfect information in re-
gard 10 the habits of the fsh and the best
method OF introducing them. Some INQUIRE for
the spawn, supposiDg that they are propagsted
Ike the SalmOnidRe. But all attempts to take
spawn from this fish have been failures so far
as We are informed. Some ponds have been
stocked With the fry, but 1t remains to be seen
whether this will prove successful. The fry are
very small, and remain but a few days over the
beds where they are Matched, SO that it requires
very close watching to capture them. They are
removed just at the time when they are said to
have the protection of the parent fish, and they
are all liable to perish In new water among
other species OF fish. The common and the most
reliable method of introducing the bass, is to
transport adult fish from well stocked ponds to
new localities. This when properly done has
never been known to fail. In most Of the States
there Is legal protection to the fish for thres
years, generally granted by special act of the
legislature. But this is not long enough to Sc
cure the object. 1t should be in all cases five
years. The fish Go not bite freely until after the
spawning Is over In NAY and June, and they do
not usually reach their new home until July OF
later; 80 that there is no fry from them until the
second year. The fish generally selected for
transfer are from one to three years old, meas
urlng from three to twelve inches in length,
Fish OF this size are not only more numerous
but they bear transportation better, and are
They are moved with good deal of diffic In
hot weather, especially when the journey re-
qulres more than twelve or fftfen hours With
the most skillful management, there will be a
considerable loss. In the fall months there is
much less loss.
There is great want of information in re-
gard TO the character Of the water suitable to
this fish. We have many letters from theowners
OF horse ponds, a half acre or less in extent
having neither springs nor water running
through them for portion of the year. The
bass wants clear lively water with rocky or
1t wants room for itself and for the poorer kinds
OF FISH upon which it feeds voraciouslv. IL does
well in the mill ponds upon manufacturing
streams, and if the head waters and reser yoirs
are stocked, they will in few years be found
IN all the waters below. They flourish also in
natural ponds Of twenty acres or more, Some
decline TO stock these ponds or lakes because
they are generally free to the public. But this
IL short sighted policy. large pond or lake
stocked at cost OF one or two hundred dollars
anu protected by law Tor five years, will furnish
better sport TO the gentlemen or company who
undertake the enterprise than they could find
in any small pond of their own. In suitable
water black bass multiply very fast, and after
they once gain possession, their numbers can
never be very seriously reduced by hook fishing
The annual spawning will more than keep up
the supply, There are thousands OF ponds and
lakes In the Northern and Middle States of from
one hundred to a Thousand acres, producing only
the poorer kinds of fish, that might easily he
stocked with bass, and add largely to the food
supply of the people. 1t only needs the effort of
few individuals in any neighborheod or town
ship to accomplish this good work. When the
funds are raised, there is little difficulty i'm pro-
curing the fish. Fish culture has made such
progress in the Eastern States, lat an order for
trout, or bass, Is about as readily filed as an
order for Jerseys or Observation-Disclosures Agri-
ctIfturikf.