The Farm Fishpond 2037 



If some of the vegetation is started the fore part of May and followed 

 immediately by the introduction of the small forage animals mentioned, 

 all will be fairly well established by June, when the vegetable-eating 

 fishes may be introduced. 



As given in the table on page 2021, the spawning season for goldfish 

 and golden shiners extends from May into August. Therefore if the pond 

 is stocked with adults the fore part of June, part of one season's spawning 

 will probably take place in the pond the first year. Goldfish and shiners 

 will spawn when one and two years old, respectively, but the number of 

 resulting young will not be so large as when older spawners are used. In 

 order to fully stock an acre pond with goldfish and shiners, approximately 

 four hundred pairs of the yearlings of the former and the same number 

 of two-year-olds of the latter will be needed. This number may be divided 

 by two in case older fishes of each kind are used. It is not desirable, how- 

 ever, to stock the pond fully until it is fairly well covered with vegetation. 

 In ponds having rich bottom soil this may be the case toward the end 

 of the first season, but ordinarily two years will be required. It is therefore 

 suggested that only about one hundred pairs of goldfish and the same 

 number of shiners be introduced in June of the -first year. Others may 

 be added the second and the third year in numbers sufficient to fully 

 stock the pond. 



The final stage in the stocking procedure consists in planting the edible 

 fishes, bass, perch, sunfish, and the like. One may use any size of fish, 

 provided all are alike. The larger the stock fishes, however, the better 

 are the chances of their reaching maturity and also the greater the cost 

 per fish. Which are the more economical to use, fry or fingerlings, is 

 still a much discussed question. 



The proper time to introduce stock fishes will depend on the condition 

 of the pond and the availability of the fishes. Stocking should not be 

 attempted until the pond has had time to develop forage. Yearlings 

 or larger fish should not be planted until at least one summer has elapsed 

 since the completion of the pond. Fingerlings may be introduced in the 

 fall after the first summer, while fry and advanced fry will do little harm 

 if planted in June and July of the first year. 



All the fishes mentioned in the table on page 2021 are good food 

 fishes, but pike and pickerel on account of their voraciousness cannot 

 be propagated unless special provisions are made for their nourishment. 

 Among the other fishes mentioned a selection will naturally be determined 

 by individual taste. If it is so desired, some of each kind may be used. 

 However, nothing would be gained by introducing both species of bass, 

 for so far as the flavor of the flesh is concerned, one form will probably 

 be as good as the other in a pond of the kind under consideration. The 



