546 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [80J 



be best iu all respects to avoid everything artilieial in carp culture. 

 All that can be done to aid in producing a favorable result of the spawn- 

 ing process, is to make a suitable selection of the spawning ponds and 

 the spawning fish, to jdace the lish in the ponds at the proi)er time and 

 to put some stones and branches iu the Avater, so the lish may rub 

 against these and deposit their spawn. In this Avay, You Eeider says, 

 spawn may easily be transferred from one pond to the other: '^ Take 

 ihe root of a willow growing on the bank of the pond, which has a 

 great many fibers and small roots, tic it to a stone and throw it into the 

 water where the fish gather. The fish will soon ai)proach this root, es- 

 pecially if there are no aquatic plants near by, ami de])osit their spawn 

 on the root. If this root has been thrown into the water during calm, 

 warm wi-ather, it can be taken out after a few days, and thrown into 

 the pond wliich is to be stocked with spawn, in a place where the water 

 will cover it to the depth of 8 to IU centimeters.''* 



The above method may be ai)plicable in rivers and brooks, but camiot 

 be recommended in i)ond culture, for all that would be gained would be 

 a saving in the number of spawning carp to be placed in the ponds, 

 which would be a doubtful advantage. This method may, however, 

 l)ossibly be used with i)rofit in carp-culture iu the following manner: 

 Although, like many other pond cultuiists, 1 am, on general principles, 

 oi)poscd to everything artificial iu carp-culture, the artificial protection 

 of the eggs seems to deserve some attention and be worth a trial. Mo- 

 liu says on this subject : " If eggs adlun-ing to ditlVrent objects, e. {/., carp 

 eggs or tench eggs, are to be hatched iu sunuuer and iu stagnant water, 

 take a shallow wooden tub, i)lace in it the aquatic plants to which the 

 eggs adhere, fill it with water, and place it iu the sun. If the tempera- 

 ture during the day rises above 1*0 or 2.j degrees, cover the tub with 

 a i>iece of linen or with some green branches; and if during the night 

 the temi)erature falls below Ki degrees cover it with a straw mat or a 

 wooden lid."t 



The time when the spawning carp are to be placed in the spawning 

 ponds cannot be accurately tixed as to the month and day. The best 

 time is in the beginning of spring when the weather, and consequently 

 the water, begins to get warmer. This time may be in March, April, or 

 May. It should be laid down as a rule not to place the spawning fish 

 in the spawning ponds before warm spring weather sets in. To do it 

 too early in the season wdl always be injurious, and m^thing can possibly 

 be gained ther«}^)y. Even if the spawning carp should spawn sooner, 

 the spawn will remain unhatched until the sun is strong enough to do 

 this; and the longer it renmins in that condition the more will it de- 

 crease, owing to its many enemies. The quicker the si>awn is hatched 

 the more numerous will ])c the young fry. Teichmann says : '^ Spawn- 

 ing carp should not be placed in the ponds too early in the season, w1r;i 



* You Roiilor, Das Uonz') dor J'iselien-i, IS^i). 

 t JJolJP- J^i'tionelle Zvclil (ler Silnswosser/lxchPf 



