At very high stocking densities, it is unwise to offer maxi-
mum amounts of food because water quality can
deteriorate rapidly.
 Fry should be stocked into rearing areas during the cool
evening or morning hours by slowly conditioning them
to the water, using aerated buckets or other containers
to transport them. Fry stocked in ponds may survive bet-
ter and can be more easily fed if they are provided with
shelters such as wooden or plastic boxes around which
they congregate. Some producers prefer to give added
protection to fry by temporarily holding them in screened
boxes within ponds until they reach slightly larger sizes.
 To determine optimal stocking rate, divide the an-
ticipated total weight produced per acre by the weight of
the average sized fingerling desired for harvest. Since a
maximum feeding rate of 100 pounds of feed per acre
per day should generally not be exceeded, a maximum
of about 3,500 pounds of fish per acre can be attained
at harvest time. The following examples illustrate sam-
ple calculations required to estimate common stocking
rates:

Example 1. If 0.06 pound average fish (6 inches) are
 desired for harvest, then the required
 stocking per acre is:

 Stocking rate/acre = Total pounds of fish/acre
 Desired average weight
 of fish (lbs)
 3,500 pounds/acre
 0.06 lb average weight
 = 53,333 fish/acre

Example 2. If 0.02 pound average fish (4 inches) are
 desired for harvest, then:
 3,500 pounds/acre
 Stocking rate/acre = 3 0
 0.02 lb average weight
 = 175,000 fish/acre


 Feeding Fingerlings
 Small fingerlings have large appetites and should be
 fed nutritionally-balanced diets at least two to six times
 daily for the first two weeks. As fingerlings grow, they
 can be fed larger pellets (Table 3), but they begin to eat
 less food in relation to their size. "Crumbles" or crushed
 pellets can be replaced with '/1, inch pellets of at least
 36% protein when fingerlings are four to six weeks old.
 Extruded or floating pellets are preferred by most cat-
 fish producers because the fish can be seen as they eat.
 Savings in food costs of 10-15% can sometimes be re-
 alized by using a combination of about 85% sinking and
 15% floating pellets. However, feed loss must be avoided
 by distributing pellets near areas where fingerlings con-
 gregate and by placing sinking pellets over areas of hard


bottom and free of rooted vegetation. Shelters and con-
tainers can be used to attract fingerlings to desired feeding
areas.
 The amount to feed is determined by fingerling size,
stocking density, and water temperature. Most suggested
feed schedules are rough guides and the manager must
use good judgement in estimating a proper allowance.
Standard recommended feeding rates are presented in
Table 5. Actual feed allowances, usually expressed as
pounds/acre/day, will vary widely but generally should
not exceed 35 pounds/acre/day during summer to pre-
vent oxygen shortages. In cold weather, fingerlings should
be fed 1.5%0 of their estimated weight three to six days
per week. Fingerlings fed from November to March in
Florida will probably gain at least 25-40% of their initial
body weight. Fish weight should be estimated weekly, and
perhaps daily, in order to make accurate adjustments of
feeding percentages. At very high stocking densities and
high water temperatures it is unwise to offer maximum
amounts of food because water quality can deteriorate
rapidly.

Table 5. Suggested feeding frequencies and allowances
 for fry and fingerlings at different temperatures.
 Feeding
 Water Allowance Feeding
 Temperature (% body Frequency
 (0 F) weight/day)
 > 87 2 2 times/day
 80-86 6 4 times/day
 68-79 3 2 times/day
 58-67 2 1 time/day
 50-57 2 alternate days
 < 50 1 every 3-4 days

 Harvesting
 When fingerlings are 3-10 inches long they can be
 harvested for marketing as seed stock. Harvesting can be
 done year-round but is discouraged when water
 temperature is over 850 F (290 C). Harvest during cool
 morning hours and handle fingerlings as briefly as possi-
 ble during warm months to lessen stress.
 Fingerlings grown in ponds can be removed by seining
 with a 100-200 foot net. About half of the seine should
 be stretched and staked in the water, parallel to the shore
 and about 50 feet from the bank near a hard-bottomed
 feeding area free of debris. Excess netting at the ends of
 the seine can be rolled or folded and hauling ropes ex-
 tended from the seine to stakes on the shoreline. Finger-
 lings should then be fed in the trapping area for a few
 days to accustom them to the net. Harvesting is done by
 pulling the net toward the shore and around the finger-
 lings when they are actively feeding. Fish should then be
 dipped from the seine and loaded directly into grading
 vats or hauling equipment.