The Newtown bee., 1904-08-12

udyS, uQUll Uucy UcCOm0 SuulCleuUly strong and active to take care of them selves; they are then left to work out their own salvation.
 An interesting discovery was made at this hatchery; one which, 1 think, has not been publicly recorded. The first pair of bass spawned May 10. Four of the bass gave their attention to two females each. The second females de- pOsited their eggs immediately over those of the first females, and this hap pened in each case within twenty-four hours after the first deposit of eggs. Apparently all of the eggs matched. to large pond and the nests were used again.
 The ponds are divided by partition walls into three sections, on the plans of other hatcheries. The lower divis- ion contains eight feet of water, while the two upper divisions are shallower and designed for nursery ponds. The three divisions are connected by suit able openings, and the openings fitted
 with movable screens. During the
 first spawning period the adult fish oc- the fry were removed from the nest boxes the ponds were drawn down sufficiently to move all the adult fish, the minnows which had been
 placed there for food and the nest boxes, into the lower division. The
 ponds were then filled and sixteen
 thousand fry from the tank placed | in the two upper divisions. Before the
 ponds were entirely filled the eight
 males which had started such numer-
 ous' family began preparing nests again,
 ing for another family. In due time
 this second lot of fry was taken from
 the boxes. Fewer eggs were deposited
 during the second spawning period,
 but they matched well. Soon after the | fry were removed from the boxes the
 males again prepared their nests, and
 all were spawned in again for the third
 time. This third spawning was much
 heavier than the second, but not quite
 cold storm of several days duration,
 which finally reduced the temperature of the water to 59degrees. Three days
 later the bass had deserted their nests , the eggs were lost. Two of the bass pre-
 pared their nests for the fourth time
 and again spawn was deposited. But
 the storm and the low temperature , still prevailed and the nests were final } ly desertA Nhis ended the spawn ing season 9sJ903. The 16,O00 young ] small -moelbk aaced in nursery ponds ICpACoOnuSQ SA11y O oludll pOi UlNu OI UuS 5 fry hatchedsngfing the first spawning 3 period. Many thousands were trans ferred to the tanks and to the nurser, l ponds, and finally safely planted.
 ] All manner of foods were offered tht r young fish, and much interesting dat g along this line collected. Maggot } were found to be the only artiticia j. food the young bass would touch, bu n these were difficult to obtain in sutfic e ient quantities. At last all attempt e to provide artificial foods were abar r doned. and as far as possi ble the youn f fishswere supplied with their natura
 food, crustacea, insects, etc.; reducin n their numbers by planting, from tim IS to time, so as to be able to keep up t $ their food demands. The young ifs n made rapid growth and were very viz e orous. Early in October the last o e the young bass were planted. It wa e found that some of them were full if five inches long, and that the ayerag is length was about four inches. Of tn r. l6,000 fry originally placed in the nu le Sery over fourteen thousand wei O. planted. Two thousand out of 16,0( SC represented the proportion of loss du
 ing the summer; this, it will be agreed es is a remarkable showing, considerin er the youth of the enterprise and tt ot difficulties overcome. It should