The Farm Fishpond 2027 



Adults of the common pond fishes of New York State may be placed 

 in four groups depending on the character of their food: namely, (i) vege- 

 table feeders, comprising those that subsist principally on vegetation; 

 (2) omnivorous feeders, which show little if any preference for vegetable 

 or animal food; (3) animal feeders eating insects, worms, snails, small 

 crustaceans, and other animals of moderate size; and (4) animal feeders 

 that are highly predatory on larger aquatic animals, including frogs, 

 crayfish, and the like. In the first group are included carp, goldfish, 

 and golden shiners. The bullhead and the sucker are good representatives 

 of the second group. To the third belong nearly all the common food 

 fishes, such as yellow perch, rock bass, sunfish, and calico bass. Among 

 the highly predaceous fonns there, are the black basses, the pike, the 

 pickerel, and the wall-eyed pike. 



It must be understood that this grouping is not a hard and fast one. 

 Carp, goldfish, and golden shiners do many times eat moderate-sized 

 animals, but it is important that plenty of vegetation be present for 

 their use. Nearly all representatives of the third group also eat crayfish 

 and small fish; likewise the black basses often eat small insects, snails, 

 and worms. Generally speaking, however, the various species seem to 

 prefer the kinds of food indicated by the grouping. 



STOCKING THE POND 



Putting fish into a pond immediately after it is built would be like 



• turning chickens into a newly plowed field to find their own food. One 



could expect no greater returns from the one procedure than from the 



other. Both fish and chickens might get enough worms to last a few 



days, but famine would eventually overtake them. 



A fishpond in order to be successful must provide (i) suitable spawning 

 grounds, (2) abundant forage, and (3) shelter in which young and old 

 may escape their natural enemies. When one is certain that these pro- 

 visions are fully met, then it is time to introduce fishes. Spawning grounds 

 suitable for the different kinds of pond fishes have been described under 

 " Spawning habits," page 2020. 



Food for young fishes 



The propagation of minute organisms in great numbers as food for 

 young fishes has been accomplished by the Chinese and the Japanese 

 and more recently by the Germans. For this purpose they have used 

 various organic fertilizers including the manure of sheep and horses. 

 During the last few years the Germans have been experimenting with 

 various commercial inorganic fertilizers, but at the present time, their 

 use is little understood, and there is a great difterence of opinion as to their 

 value. 



