Part III.] Pond Fish Culture. 135 



In this way the waste of the pond can be converted indi- 

 rectly into varieties of fish that are considered among the very 

 best for table use. However, some of the fish that live on the 

 waste in our waters, such as the German carp, the buffalo and 

 the redhorse, are classed as among the important food fishes. 

 In most streams and ponds the food supply for such fish is 

 usually abundant, and for this reason the number of pounds 

 of fish that can be produced in any given body of water is 

 several times as great as could be produced if game fish alone 

 were being raised. Most any kind of carnivorous fish will eat, 

 in waters where other food becomes scarce, two, three, four 

 or even five times its own weight in other fish each year. If 

 we have in mind the raising of pounds of fish, rather than 

 some particular kinds, the fish that eat vegetable and waste 

 matter would surely be considered more important than many 

 of the carnivorous forms that are usually considered as game 

 fishes,* and are so highly prized by so many hook-and-line 

 fishermen. However, we have always been a hook-and-line 

 fisherman, and have spent some of the happiest and most de- 

 lightful days of our lifetime with rod and line on the banks of 

 streams and ponds. We hope to continue our hook-and-line 

 fishing and do what we can to encourage and help others do 

 the same thing. It will soon be about the only real sport and 

 recreation left for people in this part of the country. 



Kinds of Water Plants. 



It is quite important that the proper kinds of aquatic plants 

 be grown in waters where fish are to be raised. Almost any 

 kind of water plant is better than nothing. However, certain 

 kinds of fish feed upon certain varieties of plants. Again, 

 plants furnish food for many animals, especially the small and 

 low forms of life that fish feed upon. Plants, especially those 

 with large leaves like water lilies, are not only beautiful to 

 grow in ponds, but they furnish both shade and protection for 

 both old and young fish. However, the lilies should not be al- 

 lowed to take possession of the entire pond to the exclusion of 

 all other plants. They are not good food producers. So long 

 as they can be confined to certain localities in the pond they are 

 all right, but when they cover most of the surface area of the 

 pond, the natural animal life food supply of the pond is greatly 

 reduced. In our judgment not more than one-fifth of the area 

 of any pond should at any time be covered with lilies. 



We learn from a study of the relations of plant and animal 

 life that certain varieties of plants not only in themselves serve 

 as food for many kinds of fish, but these same plants make 

 good harboring places and feeding grounds for numerous lower 

 forms of water animal life which serve as food for fish. A 

 good fish pond is one that is so properly stocked with vegetable 



* See note of explanation on "game fishes," page 105. 



