The Newtown bee., 1908-08-07

in which this splendid game fish is in great danger of becoming extinct. We are the only commercial dealers in small-mouthed bass in the country.
 We offer them in four stages of growth namely: Advanced Fry, 1a to 2 inch, 2 to 3 inch; and 3 to 4 inch fin gerlings.
 ADANCED FRY.
 Owing to the many difficulties en- countered in the propagation of small mouthed bass, it is exceedingly fortu- nate that the fry and fngerlings pos sess remarkable characteristics which enable them to survive where the young of many other kinds of fish would perish. For this reason splendid results are certain to follow the proper planting of the Avdanced Fry.
 Bass fry do not, rise from the rnest until the yoke sac is absorbed and they are ready to take food through the mouth. In the wild state they soNp spread out in loose swarm in shallow water along shore. In fairly high water temperature, with natural food abundant, the fry soon become very ac- tive and make rapid growth. The pa- rent fish !can be seen continually pa trolling the entire length of the school driving away every intruder. This protection continues for number of days until the remarkable characteris- tics of the young fish have become strongly developed. They now no longer need the protection of the pa- rent fish, he swims away, and they dis appear. It is the male fish alone that cares for the eggs and guards the young.
 Since the young fish have disap- peared it may be interesting to know what has become of them. For time we were completely baffied in our efforts to find them. Careful observa- tions along the shore where they were last seen revealed nothing. No matter how quiet our movement, they seem to detect our presence and kept entirely out of sight. They were eventually found safely hidden under the stones in shallow water. After remaining per fectly motionless for long time, or at least until the young bass had fully de- cided we were some inanimate objects incapable of doing harm, they could be seen to dart out from their hiding places, seize particles of food and im- mediately return to shelter. They were eternally on the watch, instantly de- tecting the presence of enemies and would not leave shelter until all danger was past. It is the wonderful instinct of self-preservation which enables the fry of bass to survive in water where predatory fish abound.
 The young bass remain hidden until of sufficient size to no longer require cover. As the adult fish always spawn on rocky or gravelly bottom, it will be seen that when the school is deserted by the parent fish, abundant hiding places under the stones are at hand.
 At the hatchery, the fry, after they rise from the nest, are placed in large tanks where they are abundantly sup piled with food on which they make rapid growth. They are held in the tanks somewhat longer than they would receive protection by the parent fish in the wild state, when they are ready to plant. We have planted many thousands of the advanced fry, and have made thorough study of their habits and growth. In lakes where their natural food is abundant, fry planted in June and July will make a growth of from four to five inches dur ing the summer and fall. Judging from the presence of large numbers of young bass in waters where the fry have been abundantly planted, we are fully convinced the majority survive. We are sometimes asked, Do not young bass reared at the hatchery lose their instinct of self-preservation to such extent as to become easy prey for predatory fish when planted?
 While our young bass receive their food from the attendant several times daily and are protected from enemies, they never lose their wiley and watch ful habit. Their peculiar characteris- tics may be somewhat modified for the time being, but when introduced in open waters they at once realize the fact and their instinct of self-preserva- tion is fully aroused.
 In lakes where pickerel and perch are plenty, the fry should be planted