[67] 



POND CULTURE. 



533 



pounds per 100 fish, the two years' fish between 35 and 70 per 100 the 

 three years' fish between 100 and 130 per 100, and the four years' fish may 

 sometimes reach the weiglit of 200 pounds and more per 100 fish, so a's 

 often to become marketable at that age. The above gradations of weight 

 will suffice for all cases. Different names are employed for fish of dif- 

 ferent weight and age in (he various parts of Germany, which is to be 

 regretted, as it often leads to errors; and it would be advantageous if 

 certain technical terms for fish of different ages were universally adopted. 

 In former times the fish were sorted according to their length, which 

 however, was not always a safe guide, for fish of the same length may 

 difler greatly in breadth and volume. An experienced pond culturist 

 should be able to judge of the weight of fish, and sort them accordingly, 

 merely by looking at them. The stock pond is stocked, not only with 

 carp, but also, to prevent the spawning of the carp or the production of 

 young fish, with other fish, principally fish of prey. Although experi- 

 ence will be the principal guide in the matter of determining the num- 

 ber of fish to be ])laced in each pond, persons about to establish a pond 

 farm, or those who take in hand an old pond farm, where no books have 

 been kept— persons, in short, who lack experience — should have certain 

 data on which they can base their plan, adapting it, of course, to the local 

 circumstances. Such data will aid in determining what approximate 

 number of fish should be placed in each pond, for it will not be suffi- 

 cient to know and carry out the principle not to overstock a pond. A 

 person should be able to determine, as nearly as possible, the proper 

 number of fish which a pond, according to its location and character, 

 can sustain, so as to avoid the understocking of ponds, which may also 

 prove injurious. 



The following should be considered as an attempt to aid in furnish- 

 ing such data. On the ])ond farm at Wittingau, in Bohemia, which 

 possesses the enormous pond area of 5,755 hectares, and whose circum- 

 stances will, therefore, not apply in all respects to medium-sized or small 

 pond farms, the various classes of ponds are stocked in the following 

 ratios : 



A. Spawning ponds : 5 spawners and 3 milters per hectare. 



B. Raising ponds : 



