Research on the extensive culture of striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Walbaum), was conducted in ponds at Auburn University Fisheries Research Unit in the spring of 1971. Investigations were conducted to determine the effect of water hardness, source of fry: and immediate versus delayed stocking on the survival of striped bass fry. Twelve 0.10-acre earthen ponds were used. Six ponds were treated with calcium sulfate to raise the hardness to 150 ppm. The hardness of the remaining ponds was approximately 20 ppm. Striped bass fry from two sources (Cooper River, South Carolina, and Savannah River, Georgia) were stocked immediately after receIvmg them from the hatchery or after they began feeding. Stocking rates varied from 60,000/A to 210,000/A. There was no difference in survival between sources of fry. Delayed stocking increased the survival rate of striped bass once they were stocked in the ponds; however, many fry from each source died in holding prior to stocking into the ponds. Increasing the water hardness did not increase the survival of striped bass. On the contrary, survival of striped bass in soft water ponds was higher than the survival in hard water ponds.
