[15] ARTIFICIAL FEEDING OF CARP. 1023 



ofteu do more harm than good; and in this case a guide for feeding 

 carp, even if ever s^o imperfect, holding perhaps the same relation to it 

 as the theory of the value of hay to the well-developed theory of feed- 

 ing cattle, cannot be dispensed with. 



With regard to the Entire farming operation the feeding of carp can 

 be made to subserve the following purposes : 



I. To cause the fish in the growing-ponds to gain as much as possible 

 in weight during the time immediately precediug the sale, viz, during 

 the months of September and October. 



If it is not the intention to catch a certain minimum weight of fish, 

 it will be sufficient to give the fish, from time to time, food which may 

 be on hand, and is otherwise useless; but even in doing this* certain 

 regular periods should be observed, as it will invariably retard the 

 growth of the fish if they are not fed on those days on which they have 

 been accustomed to be fed. 



If, however, it is the intention to reach, approximately, a certain defi- 

 nite minimum weight, food should be given in accordance with the 

 standard. An example of this way of feeding is given on page 218 of 

 my Lehrhuch der Teichwirthschaft (Manual of Pond culture). 



II. To obtain young fry having the greatest possible weight. 



The main question here is also whether a certain definite weight is 

 to be ai)proximated, or whether the object is merely to obtain heavier 

 fry than could be obtained without feeding. 



In the first case it will not be necessary to adhere strictly to the 

 standard of food. 



But if the young fry are, for example, to be advanced so much during 

 the year of their birth as to reach a weight which otherwise they would 

 not have reached till the second year, this object cannot be attained by 

 feeding the fry in the hatching-ponds unless the quantity of fry is ex- 

 traordinarily small, but the young fry must during the first year be 

 transferred to special growing-j^onds, and in them brought up to the 

 desired weight, artificial food being used, according to the quality of 

 the fry and the quantity contained in the pond. 



If feeding has to be resorted to, the quantity of food should be adapted 

 to the end in view by observing the feeding-rules. 



III. To bring fry that have not attained the normal weight* during 

 one year to the weight required for its transfer to the feeding-ponds 

 during the following year. 



Even in piscicultural establishments conducted on rational principles 

 it may happen, in exceptional cases, that the fish of one or the other 

 pond do not reach the normal weight aimed at for that particular year, 



* By normal weight I mean the minimum weight per fish which the carp must 

 reach in a year, so as to be ready for transfer during the following year, and so as to 

 reach at the end of the entire period of raising the minimum weight aimed at for that 

 period. This normal weight will therefore vary considerably, according to circum- 

 stances. 



