[19] 



CARP-CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. ^77 



Miscellaneous. — The carp were subjected to a eovere cbaugc of tiiiiiimituif wli.-n 

 they were ])laced in the pond, and are not known to have survived. I am uiakin" 

 arrangeiuent.s to '^vt another supply from Rixford, Fla. "^ 



Propagating BHiM.— I ouce stocked an adjoining pond of about :U) acres with a 

 native lish called "brim," and have been very auccessful in raising large quantities of 

 very fine edible tish. 



81. Statement of Henry Fobter, Oviedo, Orange Co., Fla., Feb. If), 18H2. 



Enemies. — A white heron was seen to catch the large carp, and the little felhiws 

 may meet the same fate when they get large enough. 



82. Statement of L. Johnson, Sorrento, Orange Co., Fla., Jpr.2'3,l8(*^l. 



Growth. — The 8 carp which I placed in my ])ond 2 years ago I did not see for the 

 space of 14 months. They now measure fully 28 inches in length. I have been un- 

 able to see more than 1 carp at any one time. There are no other fish in the pond. 



83. Statement of Geo. C. Rixford, Rixford, Suwannee Co., Fla., July 17, 1883. 



DiSPCsiTioN OF CAKP received. — I received 75 carp November 2G, 1879, and 20 

 more January 1, 1883. My pond covers about three-fourths of an acre ; varies iu depth 

 from 2 to 25 feet, has a muddy bottom, and is fed by springs. There is no visibh^ out- 

 let, and the water is always warm. 



Plants. — It contains water-lilies and grass. 



Enemies. — It had black bass iu it, but I have captured nearly all of them. There 

 are vsmall perch aud minnows that I cannot get rid of. 



Food. — I have daily given them bread made of one-third wheat-bran and two-thirds 

 corn-meal. 



Growth. — I presume there are 50 or 60 yet of the original lot, weighing from 6 to 10 

 l)ouuds each. 



Repkoduction. — They have not produced a single young fish, so far as I can a.scer- 

 tain, and I have; watched them closely. 



IIyueknation. — They have never gone " into kettle," but always come for their 

 food regularly summer and winter. They never neglected their food nor came near 

 the shore with but one lixception. That was for a day or two last year, when pursu- 

 ing one of their number that had probably been bitten by a turtle. They grew 

 nicely, and I have taken much pleasure in feeding them and in watching their move- 

 ments. 



Difficulties.— I am considerably disappointed at their failure to propagate. I 

 thought I had found a fish well adapted for Florida waters. I find, however, that 

 the black bass comes nearer filling the want. The troubles I have had to contend 

 with are an impossibility to keep the pond clear of turtles, minnows, and small perch, 

 which prey upon the eg^gs and young. Most of the ponds in Florida are not suscej)- 

 tible of being drained so as to get rid of them. The small fish, minnows aud perch, 

 being the natural food of the bass, he takes care of himself and protects his young. 



Miscellaneous. — The carp are ([uite tame, and when thoy find that I am at the 

 feeding place they come as quickly as a drove of pigs would for corn. 



OEOKOIA. 



84. Statement of JViUiam S. Brantly, Macon, Bibb Co., Ga., Oct. 1, 1882. 



Disposition of carp received. — I received 16 leather carp November 6, 1879. 1 

 received 25 scale carp Jiinuary 13, 1880, and since then I have received about 25 more 

 leather carp. The first lot I i)ut in a pond 20 l)y 60 feet, from 4 to 4^ feet <l('ep, with 

 muddy bottom. The second lot I put in a i)oud 40 by 70 feet, about 6 feet deej), with 

 muddy bottom on one side and saud aud gravel on the other. There is a tlow ot 

 water through the ponds from November to June of about 2 inches, and from June 

 to November of about one inch. October 1, the temperature of the water was 74°, but 

 the weather is unusually warm for this month. 



Plants.— It contains Vater moss, cat-tail, marsh grass, &c. I am also planting a 

 water-lily calli'd "bonnets." 



ExE.MiES.— The i)ond contains a destructive little minnow called top waters, large 

 gnen frogs, an occasional turtle, aud a few water moccasins. The minnows and 

 frogs have been very troublesome, and seem irrepressible. I did uot think, until 

 this year, that frogs would destroy spawn. The turtles aud water moccasins I can 

 catch and kill out. I keep a turtle trap .set all the time. 



Kooi).— I give them refuse fruit, vegetables, bread, corn-meal, aud mulben-^i" uml 



