[75] POND CULTURE. 541 



given above. During summer the carp resort to the edges of the ponds 

 about 9 o'clock in the morning, and remain there till midnight, when 

 they return to the deep water, where they appear to rest, to commence 

 their daily routine again about 9 o'clock the next morning. The age of 

 fish exercises a great influence on their increase in weight. The younger 

 a fish the more rapidly will it grow, while the growth of an old fish is 

 slow. The pond culturist, therefore, should aim at having only young 

 fry and youug fish, which form the backbone of a good pond farm."* 



The growth of the carp will be specially favored by not placing too 

 many fish in a pond in proportion to its quantity of food and water. Be- 

 sides suitable food a fish also needs for its proper development sufficient 

 space, so as to allow freedom of movement. The goldfish, which are 

 closely related to the carj), furnish a proof of this. In ponds they will 

 reach a length of 30 to 45 centimeters, while in glass globes they oidj 

 reach G to 12 centimeters, during an age of two years. I have ever 

 known goldfish to reach the age of eight years without growing any 

 longer than about 12 centimeters. In good ponds young carp can reach 

 a weight of 10 grams t apiece during the year of their birth, 256 grams 

 during the second, C50 during the third, and 2^ pounds to 5 pounds 

 during the fourth year; and in exceptionally good ponds the ratio of 

 increase is even greater. 



7. STOCKING OF THE SPAWNING PONDS AND PRODUCTION OF YOUNG 



FRY. 



After the spawning ponds have been selected and filled, the spawning 

 carp are placed in them. As there are different kinds of carp, such as 

 the common carp, the mirror carp, and the leather carp, it will be nec- 

 essary to state which of these different kinds should be recommended. 

 The only suitable fish for pond culture is the common carp. It is true 

 that the mirror carp has its admirers, and sometimes sells at a higher 

 price than the common carp, but in spite of this, it cannot be recom- 

 mended for cultivation in ponds. It is not protected by scales, and is 

 therefore more liable to be injured ; and even in good ponds it never 

 reaches the size and weight of thecommon carp. As a general rule the 

 common carp is the variety most sought after. What has been said of 

 the mirror carp also applies to the leather carp. If, however, there 

 should be many admirers of the mirror carp in some locality, so that it 

 would fetch a higher price than the common carp, it may be recom- 

 mended to raise it in special spawning, raising, and stock ponds. 



It is an old adage, "Like parents, like children;" and it will, there- 

 fore, behoove the ])ond culturist to be exceedingly careful in selecting 

 his spawning carp. As a general rule they should be fully matured, the 

 milter should be long and narrow and the spawner round and plump. 



* Horak, Teichivirihsohaft, 1869. 



tThere are about 453.6 grams in 1 pouud (avoirdupois) ; hence in 2i pouudH tlicre are 

 1,134 grams. 



