552 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [86] 



The stocking- of the raisiug pouds slioiild begin in spring, Allien t)ie 

 weatlier commences to get warm and no more frosts need be feared. 

 The young fish used for the purpose are taken from the winter i)onds, 

 or from the spawning ponds which liave not been fished in autumn. 

 The fry are measured out into kegs, which are not filled to the brim, and 

 are conveyed to the raising pouds by reliable persons, who must remain 

 near the ])onds until the fish have left the edges, and also to see how 

 many of the little fish have become weak or have perished during trans- 

 portation. These observations should be repeated for several days, so 

 as to repair any losses. The two-year-old fish should not only be 

 counted, but also weighed, and the same precautions should be exercised 

 as with the fry; but if the kegs are not filled too much with fish, and 

 have a suificient quantity of water, no loss need be feared, as the fish 

 are strong enough to stand the hardships of transj^ortation. In raising 

 ponds it will be well to add a few tench, which by rooting in the 

 ground will make the food hidden in the mud accessible for the fry and 

 two-year-old fish. In these ponds tbere should also be placed some three- 

 year-old carp as "leaders," particularly in raising ponds of the first 

 class. These so-called "leaders" are to draw the attention of the 

 younger fish to threatening dangers by flying to the depths, whither the 

 young iish will immediately follow them. If the raising pond contains 

 winter quarters, these three-year-old fish will also lead the young fish 

 there; and it will be necessary to add a few such leaders in winter 

 ponds containing young fish. 



The fisheries in the raising ponds generally begin in Ocjtober, and 

 somewhat earlier on large pond farms, so as to get through before frost 

 sets in. ITorak says that large and deep raising ponds which have an 

 ample and constant supply of water may be omitted in the autumn 

 fisheries and be fished in spring, thus saving time and money. From 

 the raising ponds the fish are transferred direct to the stock ponds. 

 The omission of large raising ])ondslrom the fisheries is only advisable 

 if these ponds afford absolutely safe winter-quarters for the fish, and 

 only when the pond cultivator is overtaken by an uiuisually early win- 

 ter.* 



9. STOCKING THE MAIN OR STOCK TONUS. 



In selecting the stock ])onds two conditions will have to be consid(!red, 

 which arc but rarely combined. In niost cases large, even very large, 

 ponds will have to be selected, principally because these large ponds, 

 owing to their size, dei)th, the low temperature of the water, and the in- 

 troduction of other fish — caused by their being generally fed direct by 

 rivers and brooks — which rob the carp of their food, will not be suit- 

 able for young fish or fry. Stock ponds Avill need some fish of prey to 

 destroy the intruding fish, and they should have an ample supply of 

 the very best food, so that the fish may become marketable after one 

 year. lu large ponds, however, the supply of food will not be as ample 



IToral<, Tcichifh-thfiohaff, 18()9. 



