666 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [8] 



Plants. — The pond contains numerous plants belonging to this mountain region, 

 and also a kind of moss that grows nearly to the surface of the water. 



Enemies. — I had sun-fish in the pond at first, but, since, other mountain fish have 

 run in through the filling pond from the river — suckers, dace, catfish, and bull-heads. 

 Muskrats have made considerable trouble. 



Food and gkowth. — I have given the carp no food. They are now, I should think, 

 from 6 to 8 inches long, 3 or 4 wide, and from 4 to 6 ounces in weight. 



32. Statement of J. M. Broadwell, Denver, Arapahoe Co., Colo., Aug. 29, 1883. 



Disposition ov carp received. — Three years ago this summer I received 5 mirror 

 carp and 10 scale carp through W. E. Sistey. I at first kept them in a pond which 

 was fed by an abundance of cold spring water from the bottom, and had an average 

 temperature of about 50^. This spring 1 made a ])ond about 300 by 500 feet large, 

 and about 3 feet in its deepest part, with warmer water and a umddy bottom, to which 

 I removed the fish. 



Plants. — The first pond contained but little vegetation, but in the new one there 

 are many kinds of plants, moss, and tule [or bulrush, Sdrpus laciistris i.], and other 

 grasses. 



Enemies. — There arc no other fish in the pond, but some frogs. 



Food. — I only feed them the ofi'al from trout ])oiuls, which is liver, lights, &c. 



Growth. — When I moved them this spring the largest ones weighed 4 ponuds and 

 the smallest ones 2 pounds. There were 14 of the original fish left. The mirror carp 

 were much the largest. There were but 5 young ones then, and they all seemed to 

 be of the scale kind. They were about 6 inches long in Ajn-il. I think they are 

 doing very well since changed to the new pond, and the largest fish will weigh 6 

 pounds now. 



Reproduction. — They did not tlirive in the cold water ; the young seemed to hatch, 

 but did not live. Now at the present time there are or seem to be a great many 

 young from 1 to 4 inches long. 



Difficulties. — The only difficulty was that cold water. 



33, Statement of Henry Lee, Denver, Arapahoe Co., Colo., Oct. 5, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — I received 15 carp in December, 1B80. My pond 

 covers 50 acres, has a miukly bottom and au average depth of 7 feet. It is filled from 

 an irrigating ditch, has no outlet, and is of medium warmth. 



Pl.\NTS. — It contains quite a variety of aquatic plants, one of which is called " sea- 

 weed." 



Enemies. — The pond contains black bass and suckers. 



Gkowth. — The carp are Aery largo, but none have been caught yet. I have not 

 fed them, nor have I seen any young. 



Difficulties. — It is a large body of water, and I have not provided any means for 

 drawing it oil'. 



34. Statement of George F. Wortmavv, Denver, Arapahoe Co., Colo., Sept. 17, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — Three years ago I received 8 carp and put 

 them iu a jjond GO feet square, aiul 5 feet deep. The clear water is from a creek, and 

 stands at from 00^ to 75° in summer and freezes from 7 to 13 inches thick in winter. 

 The first winter was so cold tliat it froze the little pond nearly to the bottom and 

 killed the fish. I have built another pond of 3 acres and G feet deep for more carp. 

 Some others have carp in this vicinity, but will not sell them for less than $5 apiece. 



35. Statement of J. Bctzel, Longmont, Boulder Co., Colo., July 16, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — I shipped some car}) 4 inches long from Califor- 

 nia, 14 months since. The reservoir in which some of them have been kept covers 

 20 acres, and is from G inches to 4 feet deep. It has no feeders from October to 

 April. The water froze so as to leave not over 20 inches open during cold weather. 

 Another lake had still less, and covered no more than a quarter of an acre; still there 

 was no loss. The bottom is composed of clay and mud. The ice was cut open every 

 day as long as it lasted. 



Growth and reproduction. — We do not feed the carp, which are now 2 years old 

 and are spawning. They measure 16 inches, and weigh 3 pounds at the present time. 



Difficulties. — Some i)arties who did not cut the ice on their ponds in winter lost 

 all their fish. Mr. Church, I am told, lost everything, carp and all. Others lost 

 cat-fi.sh. 



Miscellaneous. — We look forward to the time when fish in this irrigating country 

 will be very plenty, as our reservoirs seem to be just the place for them. 



