128 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



been the means of conferring, for I can now at my pleasure take a 5- 

 pound carp ont of my pond, within 300 to 400 yards of my own door. 



My pond contains some three-quarters of an acre. The supply of water 

 is brought from the outside through a 4-inch pipe, which near the outlet 

 or draining trough connects with a perpendicular iron pipe, at the top 

 of which the water is discharged. During floods it is stopped in the 

 outside ditch, and passes around the pond. The pond is lined with 

 boards for 100 yards or more, making it proof against rats and cray- 

 fish. 



The carp weighed from one-half to three-quarters of a pound when 

 they were received, April 1, 1882. I fed them pretty regularly last sum- 

 mer, and they grew wonderfully. They now come up of themselves to 

 be fed. Last September I took three or four weighing quite 3 pounds 

 apiece, which I returned to the water; and a few days ago, June 28, 

 1883, I took out a 5-pounder, to show how they increase in size, but 

 did not kill this one either. It was 20 inches long and 8 inches broad, 

 and appeared to have from a gill to half a pint of spawn in it. I do not 

 think that those received spawned last season, as I have seen no young 

 fish as yet. 



In a year, if I like, I shall have all the sport desired in the way of 

 Ashing. I now have plenty of shooting, in cutting off turtle's heads with 

 explosive shells. I have killed several dozen in this way, and some 

 very large ones, say 12 inches in diameter. I learned from an acquaint- 

 ance who has some large carp that in draining his pond he found the 

 tails of some of his large fish bitten off, no doubt by large turtles, which 

 were seen there. 



On account of my frequent shooting at the pond, the remaining tur- 

 tles have become almost as wild as wild turkeys, scarcely showing more 

 than the nose above the water, and for a moment only ; but it is enough 

 if I can see the head a few seconds, as the shell explodes on striking 

 the water and kills them, and in about thirty-six hours they float on the 

 surface and can be taken out. 



I was much surprised recently, when in setting a hook with meat- 

 bait to catch the turtles — they are frequently taken in this way — I 

 caught several eels of about 2 feet or over in length. They could only 

 have entered through the ingress pipe three or four years ago, when of 

 a finger's length, and through wire gauze having a one-fourth inch mesh. 

 They have grown almost as rapidly as the carp. 



As soon as my fish have done spawning, I will let off the water and 

 clean out turtles, eels, snakes, and all. Now that I have the fish and 

 am keeping them so successfully I do not intend that depredators shall 

 have the benefit. 



Professor Baird has benefited a very large number by the distribution 

 of these and other valuable fish, and he deserves, and doubtless re- 

 ceives, the thanks of hundreds, if not of thousands, far and near. 



Sandy Spring, Md., June 31, 1883. 



