694 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [36] 



ir>7. Statement of J. B. James, New Albany, Floyd Co., Ind., Aug. 2(1, 1883. 



Disposition of cakp received.— I received 20 carp in 1879 and 20 in 1881. The 

 first lot was placed in a 5-acre pond, full of all sorts of fish, includiuf:t bass, &c. The 

 second lot was kept in a box 3 by 4 by G feet, and sunk in 5 IVet of water. In the 

 8j)ring of 1882 there were 18 found in good condition, but the Ohio River flood soon 

 after carried them all away. , 



158. Statement of Samuel B. Ensminger, Danville, Hendricks Co., Ind., Sept. 6, 1883. 



Value. — Some of my neighbors have carp which you sent them, which they ask flO 

 per pair for. 



159. Statement of Dr. Setk G. Bigeloxv, Silver Lake, Eoaoiusko Co., Ind., Aug. 20, 1883. 



DiSPOSiTiox OF CARP RECEIVED. — 1 received 18 carp November 23, 1880, and twice 

 subsequently. My pond is dug out of muck, from 1 foot to 5 feet deep, very soft and 

 sticky. The water comes from a spring 3 rods away, and is not very cold. 



Plants. — The jioud contains sweet Hags, piper grass, wild grass. It contains no 

 other lisli nor turtles — only frogs. There were formerly muskrals, but I cleiired tbem 

 out. 



Food. — I feed them with bread from 1 time to '.\ tiuies i)er day, according to tho 

 number of visitors who want to see tbe fish eat. 



Growth. — 1 still have the 18 which were received in 1880, 11 received later, and 

 15 which Joseph Peurad put in ray pond. They will average about 4 pounds. 



Reprodiction. — They have produced about 350 youug, which are of all sizes and 

 weights. By reason of an overtiow some spawn was lost last year. 



Sales. — I sold 250 young, at §10 per hundred, to stock other i)onds with. This year 



1 expect a great demand. I shall sell them at $5 per hundred this fall. 



IGO. Statement of liohert McCluskey, La Grange, La Grange Co., Ind., Oct. 26, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — I received 16 carp in November, 1880, and 20 more 

 in 1882. I have a i)ond covering not over a third of an acre, from I to 4 feet deep. It 

 has a nniddy bottom, and is fed by a spring. The spring yields water enough to keep 

 the pond, but is not very cold. I put the lirst lot in a suiall division 1 rod square and 

 3 feet deep, but seeing nothing of them all last summer, I supposed them dead, and 

 yon kin<lly sent me 20 more last fall. The latter I put in a small inclosure, but they 

 were swept away by a tlood. 



Enemies. — There are only a few frogs. 



Food. — I have given them some table refuse. 



Ghowtii. — A lew days ago I drew the water from the small pond and found 6 fish 

 of the lirst lot, which were from 6 to 8 inches in length. In their close quarters 1 

 should suppose it impossible for them to grow, and wonder they are that size. 



161. Statement of Fred. Balweg, Indianapolis, Marion Co., Ind., May, 1883. 



Disposition of c.vup received. — My pond is situated 5 miles south of Indianapolis, 

 on the Madison roail, is constantly supplied with spring water, and is surrounded 

 with beech and niai)le trees. Istocked the pond witli40carp in January, 1881. These 

 young fish were then from 2 to 3 inches long. I subsequently received 20 more, from 



2 to 3 inches long, which I also put in the pond. 



Ene.mies. — Recently I discovered that kingfishers dive into the pond and bring out 

 young carp. Since then 1 seldom go to the pond without a double-barreled shot-gun. 

 This mouth I have killed 5 of these birds. 



Food. — So far I have not fed any of tbe fish. There is an abundance of food in the 

 pond. 



Growth. — I saw nothing of my first lot of fish until October, 1881, 10 months after 

 they were placed in the pond, when I found 19 of the 40 carp. These 19 were from 

 12 to 14 inches long, and weighed 2 pounds each. 



162. Statement of the Agricultural Press, Indianapolis, Marion Co., Ind., May, 1883. 



Growth. — Several of the parties who received mirror caip from 2 to 2^ inches long, 

 January, 1882, report that 9 months thereafter they were from 12 to 18 inches long. 



Miscell.\neous. — The carp is undoubtedly the fish needed to supply the want of a 

 food-fish adapted to the waters of any part of our Union. Experience has shown us 

 that they grow and thrive anywhere beyond the anticipation of even the most san- 

 •ruine. 



