GOG REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



fourth of a cent. — Teansl.J (fifty of such fishes equal one kilogram), 

 it has in the coming summer one hundred more warm days for growth. 

 It may be taken for granted that the fish in these one hundred days, as 

 in the first year of its existence, will consume every three days as much 

 food as its own weight, which in the second summer amounts to 33^ 

 times its own weight of feeding matter, worth 33^ pfenninge. 



The predaceous fish, as is known, lives on other fishes, eveu of his 

 own species, if not fed with blood, scraps, &c., and consumes food 

 matter as valuable or nearly as valuable as itself. In fact, up to the 

 second summer the fish represents only 10 per cent, of the value of its 

 feeding expenses, having only attained the weight of 120 grams, and 

 in the third year, consuming at the same ratio, it costs already 10 mark 

 (1 mark nearly 24 cents), and so forth. 



Proceeding on this undoubtedly correct basis, calculation would finally 

 arrive to an enormous amount. I shall afterwards give a striking exam- 

 ple. If the so-called summer-fish in its third year does perhaps not use 

 up quite 33^ times as much food as its own weight, the winter-fish, on 

 the contrary, as it keeiis on eating throughout the whole year, consumes 

 a great deal more. 



According to my observations, a three-pound pike prefers a one-pound 

 inke to a one-fourth pound one, and a pike one-fourth pound in weight 

 rather takes another one one year old than a smaller fish or an angle- 

 worm, &c. As a special dainty, the frog may be mentioned. In the 

 following I shall state facts, and shall prove by figures how dear a fish 

 can become, though apparently an inexpensive inhabitant of the water. 



I had rented a (Grand Ducal) fish-breeding establishment at Varel, 

 and a friend of mine, Mr. Krommelbein, placed in one of the ponds, 

 which had proved especially adapted, 2,000 so-called StrecTc-caTj), about 

 as long as a hand ; these are fit for propagation in the fourth year. 



In order to destroy the too great quantity of fry, it is customary to 

 introduce small pikes ; in this case about 20 were added. As formerly 

 done, this pond after three years was to be fished in its turn. When 

 informed by Mr. K., I prepared for the 1,800 carp to be received (10 per 

 cent, of loss), which, after former experience, ought to have attained the 

 weight of 1^ pounds each. You will be surprised to hear the result of 

 the entire proceeding, viz: Two eatable fishes — pike — of 30 pounds* 

 each, a number of two-year-old carp-fry, t one-year-old pikes without 

 value, equally small perches, | and many sticklebacks ! The above two 

 pikes had made such astonishing growth in consequence of the abun- 

 dant food. 



The summer, like the winter, fish of the same age often differ in size 



* The pikes introduced -with the Streck-carp must liave been too large, since they 

 actually eat up the carp. — [Editor.] 



t The Streck-carp must have deposited eggs. Have none of the originally introduced 

 carp been caught, from which those two.year old must have been bred? — [Editor.] 



t Had these also been introduced? — [Editor.] 



