[51] 



CARP-CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. 709 



Growth.— Nothing was seen of the carp until February, 1881, avIkmi, oh cnttin-r ico 

 several largo carp, averaging 15 inches in length, were stirred up from the bottom of 

 the poiul. 



Kkproductiox.— Carp 6 inches long were also stirred up from the bottom of tho 

 pond while cutting ice, and snpposed to be the young of 1 lie original carp. Tlion- 

 sands of Axry small fish, which have proved to be carp, made tlieir api)e;irance in 

 schools upon the surface of the water in July, 18bl. 



Miscellaneous. — The old carp have not been seen since February, 1881, but it lias 

 been suggested that the muddiness of the pond indicates their presence. 



247. Statement of Adolpli J. Gall, Jessup's, Anne Jrundel Co., Md., July 27, 1883. 



Disposition of cakp received.— On May, 1880, 1 received 12 leather carp 3 inches 

 long, and May 25, 1880, 20 scale carp from 2 to 3 inches long. Tiie leather carp have 

 been kept in an ice pond covering i of an acre, with an average depth of 4 feet, and 

 a muddy bottom. The scale carp have been kept in an ice pond ^ of an acre in extent, 

 with a do])tli of 2 feet, and a muddy bottom. The water supply is derived from 4 or 



5 never-failing springs. 



Enemies. — There are no water-plants and no other large fish in the ponds. There 

 are bull-frogs in them, but I kill them whenever they appear. My most serious diffi- 

 culty has been to keep olf a certain bird, the so-called " kingfisher." 



Food. — I feed the carp with bread, boiled hominy, boileil potatoes, fine-cut cab- 

 bage leaves, and lettuce leaves when in season. They are fed 3 or 4 times per week 

 in spring, summer, and fall. 



Growth and reproduction.— I have 7 of the original carp left, and 10 of the scale 

 carp. They weigh from 2 to 4 pounds. They have produced thousands of young, 

 which vary from the size of a cucumber seed to about i of a pound. In my opinion 

 the scale carji is far superior to the leather carp in regard to multiplying, altliough 

 the latter outgrew the former by one-fourth at least, under the same care. 



Disposition of young. — I have given .some of the young to my neighbors, and 

 have stocked the stream. 



248. Statement of Samtiel Anderson, Rutland, Anne Arundel Co., Md., July 23, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — I received my carp in December, 1879, and put 

 them into my mill-pond, which covers about 2 acres, and is 10 feet deep at its deepest 

 point, gradually becoming shallow towards the ujiiHjr end. The bottom is composed 

 of soft mud. By storing it up at night, the water jiassing through the pond is sufficient 

 to run a 10-horse-power wheel during the day. The temperature of the water at this 

 time is about 60° Fahr. 



Plants. — Quite a variety of marsh-grasses grow along shallow parts, and also 

 water-lilies. There is grass upon the banks, which is in and out of water alternately 

 as the pond is fnll or not, and upon'which I have seen the carp feeding. 



Enemies. — There are catfish in it, and a variety of very small branch-lish, snaji- 

 ping-turtles, and small terrapins. I fear the snapping-tnrtles have destroyed many 

 carp. 



Food. — I have very seldom fed my carp. I have placed corn-bread and other waste 

 from the kitchen in the pond a few times, but do not know whether they fed on it or 

 not. 



Growth. — I do not know how many old ones I have left. About 14 months ago I 

 caught one which had gotten out of the pond, the weight of which was 3 pounds and 



6 ounces. I occasionally see one which I suppose would weigh 4 or 5 pounds. Such 

 of the young as I have seen this summer would hardly weigh a pound. 



Reproduction. — I do not know how many young have been hatched. The first 

 Avere .seen about 15 months ago, when they appeared in the mill-race, ;iud small 

 ones ])assed through the turbine-wheel and were killed. 1 have seen many this suni- 

 nier feeding along the banks. A few have since become entangled in the obstruction 

 which I have placed in the mill-race and been eaten by my miller. My trouble now 

 is to know how to catch them. 



249. Statement of Marcus C. Barclay, Baltimore, Baltimore County, Md., July 23, 18S3. 



Disposition of carp RECEnrED. — Three years ago I received 20 carp, and put them 

 in a pond of 250 acres, with a muddy bottom, 4 feet deep, and fed by springs. 



Plants and enemies. — The pond contains lilies and rushes, catfish and goldfish. 



Difficulties. — The next day after we put them in we found them all dead, floating 

 upon the surface of the pond, and were not able to account for it. They looked as it 

 they had been hurt. 



