Seven ponds in South Alabama were stocked with Florida largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides jloridanus (Lesueur), seven with native largemouth bass, M. s. salmoides (Lacepede), and seven with F, bass. Samples of bass were collected one and two years after stocking to compare growth rates. Major objectives of this study were: to determine which of the three strains of bass grow faster and/or larger in Alabama ponds, to determine if jloridanus can be successfully introduced into an established fish population of a 1,000 acre lake, and to compare the effectiveness of the three strains of bass in maintaining a balanced fish population. All three strains of largemouth bass displayed rapid growth in ponds which did not contain a crowded bass population. The fastest growth observed was that of the F, bass. However, sufficient data has not been obtained in this study to fully evaluate the growth potential of the three strains of largemouth bass. Further evaluation is planned. The number of pyloric caeca proved to be the best single character for separation of the two subspecies of largemouth bass.
