1030 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [22] 



at about G40 grams, this would still have beeu a rational system, because 

 then the fish \youl(l have been suflBcicntly matured for the sale-ponds. 

 But if they only weigh 500 grams they cannot be placed in the sale- 

 ponds with any hope of success, unless one intends to adopt, at least 

 for one part of the fish, a five years' period ; and, on the other hand, 

 these fish are too heavy for growing-ponds of Class II. 



In the case in hand I had exj^ressed my doubts (in view of the natural 

 power of growth and the quantity and quality of the food) that the 500 

 grams would be reached, and these doubts have proved to be well 

 founded. From a later communication it appears that in one pond 

 only 390 [490 Ij grams were reached, viz: 404 grams with 17,000 fish, 

 and 550 grams with 100 fish; and iu a second pond, on an average, G81 

 grams, viz: 500 fish weighing C6G, and 420 fish weighing 857 (f) grams; 

 after 608 fish out of the total number of 1,150 had been removed. 

 There is no doubt that even if the normal quantity of fish had been 

 removed, no greater weight would have been obtained than in the first 

 pond. 



Here the unequal growth is a striking feature. In my opinion the 

 matter is sufficiently explained by the circumstance that the fish were 

 not of a pure breed, but were a mixture of mirror carp, leather carj), 

 and hybrids of other carps, and that the fish, when placed in the pond, 

 very probably differed considerably in w^eight. Another, and not less 

 weighty reason, seems to be the circumstance that the fish did not all 

 derive the same benefit from the food thrown into the ponds. As the 

 food used softened very slowly, and was inconvenient for the carj) to 

 take, the fish could not be induced to come and be fed in flocks, as tliey 

 are generally wont to do, and take the food at once ; but they only occasion- 

 ally seemed to come and see whether there was anything for them to eat. 

 It can easily be imagined that, under these circumstances, some fish 

 came often, and others but rarely. At least my own personal observa- 

 tions have taught me this. If, on the other hand, one waits till the fish 

 all gather — and it is known from long experience that, if fish are accus- 

 tomed to be fed daily at the same time and place, they will acquire the 

 habit of flocking together at the accustomed time — and then throws 

 the food into the pond, so that it is immediately eaten by the fish, they 

 will all get very nearly an equal share. Those wiiich get n)ore in the 

 beginning, will, when they have had their fill, go away and let others 

 get some food. It will therefore be best, in order that all tlie fish may 

 get their share, not to throw all the food into the pond at one and the 

 same time. Nor should the food be thrown in in small pieces, one by 

 one, for then only the stronger and swifter fish would have a chance to 

 get anything; nor all in a lump. If these rules are observed, arti- 

 ficial feeding will result in tolerably even growth of the fish. Feed- 

 ing fish has to be learned like everything else, and experience will be 

 the best teacher. Any one may easily convince himself of the truth of 

 the above remarks. 



