[87] POND CULTURE. 553 



as ill small i^ouds, even if tbe nature of the soil is the same. In fnlfill- 

 iiig- the first condition of a stock pond, viz., that it shall be large, it will 

 become difficult to fulfil the second, viz., to have an ample supply of 

 good food. It should therefore, be the aim of the pond cultivator to 

 stock the stock pond in due proportion to the quantity of food contained 

 in it, and thus make sure of sufficient food for the fish. The main points 

 in the selection of stock ponds should always be sufficient depth and 

 an ample and constant su])ply of water, so as to insure the safety of 

 the fish during winter; and it will therefore, under all circumstances, 

 become a matter of necessity to select large ponds for stock ponds. 



We have already stated that the main object is to make the fish 

 marketable in as short a time as possible. The shortest time in which 

 this is possible is four years — not five or six, as is customary on most 

 pond farms. If this object is attained, pond culture may be said to have 

 been entirely successful. Delius says very truly: "We often meet 

 with ponds in which the fish are left three years ; but this is evidently 

 an error. No pond can x>ossess the necessary conditions of food for three 

 years, and the total less, if 10 per cent per year, will be very consider- 

 able. This loss may be avoided in a two years' course if the number 

 is proportioned exactly to the conditions of food. It is exactly as in 

 stock-raising, the quicker an animal is raised and fattened the greater 

 will be the gain. A certain quantity of the food is needed for sustain- 

 ing life, and everything above that quantity goes towards fattening the 

 animals. Although with fish the quantity of food needed for sustaining 

 life is smaller than with cattle, it will nevertheless make a great differ- 

 ence whether this quantity has to be counted for one or for three years. 

 In a very good pond it will be easy to make suitable arrangements in this 

 respect. To obtain favorable results, it should be ascertained what will 

 be the annual increase of weight (in pounds) in a pond; and from this 

 it can be calculated what number offish should be placed in it to obtain 

 the best possible results. The case will be different in poor ponds ; if 

 the sui)ply of food is not very abundant, it will take several years to 

 raise the carp to a certain size. In this case it will be found advanta- 

 geous to stock the- pond with three and four year old fish (mixed), and 

 fish it every year, which will make it possible to place the proper num- 

 ber of fish in the ponds. If the pond requires a three years' course, 

 three classes offish (according to age) should be placed in it, and the 

 oldest sold every year. The result will then be better than if one class 

 offish is allowed to remain in the i)ond for three years."* 



I have given the above quotation verbatim, because I could not have 

 expressed my own views better. I think, however, that even in a poor 

 stock pond the three years' course may be avoided if the young fish 

 have previously been properly raised and are not placed in the stock 

 ponds unless they weigh 1 pound apiece, which weight carj) can reach 

 in three years in medium and even in poor raising i)on(ls if these have 



* Delins, Teichwirthdchafl, i>. 63, 



