Comparison of striped bass fingerling production in freshwater and saltwater culture ponds

Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) fingerling production was compared in freshwater and saltwater ponds. Two-day old fry were laboratory reared for 3 days in fresh water (0 %.) or salt water (10 %.). The 5-day old fry were stocked at 170,000 fry/ha into three 0.1-ha freshwater ponds and three 0.1-ha saltwater ponds. Survival after 28 days was 0 and 46% in freshwater and saltwater ponds, respectively. Striped bass fry in the freshwater ponds presumably died at stocking when temperature was 25 C. Striped bass fingerling production from hatcheries can probably be increased by rearing fry in salt water (10 %.) when temperatures exceed 24 C.