XXVI.-ON THE CULTURE OF THE CARP. 



A.— ON CAEP-PONDS.* 



As the price of fish and of other articles of food is gradually increas- 

 ing, greater attention is given to fish-culture, in order to have constantly 

 on hand an adequate supply in ponds. These reservoirs are either 

 natural sheets of water or artificial excavations. Those artificially con- 

 structed are, of course, preferable, especially when the greatest care has 

 been taken to provide everything that will secure a good supply. Fish 

 can also be reared in marl or peat bogs; yet, as a general rule, these are 

 suitable places of abode only for the crucian carp, the roach, &c. ; and 

 fish from such bogs can be used only as food for other fish, such as pike 

 and trout. 



The two kinds of fish to which we direct our attention at present, in 

 connection with pond-culture, are the trout and the carp. We shall con- 

 fine ourselves in this article to carp-ponds, as these seem to be the more 

 popular with us. In former times such ponds were quite common in 

 Denmark, and traces of them may still be seen near many of our old 

 castles and manor-houses. 



The chief difficulty in rearing carp is, that a large number of ponds 

 is absolutely necessary in order to meet the expense of culture, and to 

 make the time and labor bestowed upon it remunerative. Wherever 

 carps are raised, a complete system of ponds is arranged, the most im- 

 portant of which are those designed for the young carp, and those pro- 

 vided for the mature fish. 



The pond for young carp forms, as it were, the basis of the whole estab- 

 lishment, and must be large enough to furnish young carp for the other 

 ponds. If this is not the case, it is best to have several ponds for the 

 young. Ponds having an area of from six to ten acres are considered the 

 best. Such a pond must only be fed from field-ditches, and must by no 

 means be connected with other ponds, brooks, or streams. In this way 

 only is it possible to preserve the pond free from pike, which are the 

 most dangerous enemies of the young carp. Immediately in front of 

 the chief embankment, the pond must have a depth of at least five feet, 

 while in other places two feet is sufficient. At its bottom a main ditch 

 is dug out, into which several smaller ditches lead from the sides, so 

 that in emptying the pond all the water can be drawn into a deeper 



*Lidt om Karpedamme. [anon. Af A. F.] < Nordisk Tidsskrift for Fiskeri. — My 

 Rcekke af Tidsskrift for Fiskeri. Anden Aargang. Kjebenhavn. 1874. (pp. 79-84.) 



