Year: 1875

In some localities where smelts lave been
provided to supply food for the bass, they
have multiplied so rapidly as themselves to
furnish very profitable returns to the fisher
man.


1t will be well to remember that in this
family there are two or more varieties; one
known as the Oswego bass, (Grystes Nigri
cans) and one as the Potomac bass, (Grys-
tes Salmonlde) the former pond or lake
fish, and the latter only at home in running
waters. Possibly the black bass of Lake Erie
may belong to separate class, as it is said
that they will not increase except where the
surface is broad enough to raise sea-
probably, however, they are of the Oswego
branch, and have merely grown great in
harmony with their majestic surroundings
Care must be taken in transporting these fish
to new homes, to make the right selection,
as their habits are changed and their increase
and growth retarded, by being put in the
wrong place.


The following extract Is from lecture re-
Gently delivered at the Cooper Institute by
Hon. Robert B. Roosevelt, who is an author
ity in this subject:


The admirable domestic qualities of black
bass are taken advantage of by the fish cul-
turist. The eggs of this class of fish cannot
be Matched by the means at present within
our knowledge to any advantage. They are
surrounded with ge)atinous or mucous flu
Id, which units them for being deposited
either in the salmon troughs or in the shad
boxes. 1t is possible to develop them, but at
cost OF time, care, and labor which is too
great. All that is done is to put the mature
fish in new waters. They increase with as
founding rapidty, if the conditions are favor
able. No other variety can stand before them.
Defended as they are with their spiny fins,
they are more than a match for enemies
larger than themselves, while their rapidty of
motion enables them to seize smaller sorts
with ease. Our farmers have in some sec
tions OF the country in their anxiety to OBJ
tain fish food introduced pickerel into their
ponds and lakes. A fish cannot be absolute
ly worthless, perhaps, but pickerel is as
near worthlessness as a fish can be. A cat
fish is king by comparison. Yet pickerel
are voracious, and it has been question OF
some difficulty to get rid of them when they
were once established in any water. The
black bass has removed this difficulty; he
will dispose of the pickerel and convert him
into higher kind of animal tissue with ra-
pidity which is gratifying to all lovers of good
living.


In Pennsylvania, they have been recently
introduced quite extensively. The Schuyl-
kill river already contains a vast number
from the first Matching, now weighing from
three-fourths to one and a half pounds. The
law of the state allows them to be taken
from June 1 to March I in each year, the
close season being only the months of March,
April and May.


From the report of the Connecticut Fish
Commissioners, we learn that the introduce
tion of the black bass in their waters has
been successful


In regard to them, they say that:


"Whe these fish have increased in num-
bers in all the ponds where they have been
placed, there seems to be marked differ
ence in their growth, doubtless due to the
quantity of food afforded. They should not
be placed in ponds having only muddy bot
toms. They require rocky and gravelly ba-
sins. They cannot be raised artifcially, and
the only way of introducing them is by trans
porting the adult fish, which can be done at
any time, although the summer and fall is
preferable, and a half dozen fish of each sex
will be sufficient. They spawn in the spring,
and if introduced after the spawning season,
no young can be looked for until tie follow
ing year. If protected for three or four
years, they will be found to have multiplied
rapidly, and will afford an abundant return
for the trouble and expense incurred. In
transporting, care must be taken to keep the
water cold and well aerated, and any fish
that will bite the hook will be of sufficient
size for the purpose"


Years ago we remember that Scotch
writer on political economy, in commenting
upon the value of their fisheries, stated as a
significant fact that salmon brought as
much in their markets as sheep: the one
costing only the labor of catching, while the
other was reared at considerable expense.


Enthusiastic fish culturists to-day predict
that well cultivated acre of water will be
made to return as much profit as any acre of
the farm. We think more attention should
be given to the subject by our country
towns; and for their benefit should be clad
to publish suggestions from the Fish Com
missioners, or any practical fish cGlturist.