1\>< KKPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [GO] 



•J^S. Staicmcttt of A. J. Micheiier, Cohru, Cecil Co., Md.. Ji/;/. 1, 15^63. 



DiSTiuni'Tiox OF cai:p iskckivkd. — Xovembor 11, 18:rO, I leioived 38 oarp. I have 

 ki'])! tlu'in ill a poacl covoring -^ of an ai'ie. ami ;i foot doi-p in its dt'opi'st i>arf . Tlu< 

 l)oTtoiu is qnito loamy. The main wator supply is from a rool and very strong 

 spring situated somo 300 or 400 yards distaut. 



Pl^vnts. — The jiond rontains itho i)lants aud grasses usually fouud iu ponds. 



Enf.miks. — It has no other tish in it that I know of, hut it has a few small frogs 

 aud speckle-backed turtles. 



Ft>OD. — I give the carp scraps from the kitchen, and those hut seldom. 



GiiowTii.— I do not know how many of the original lot 1 have, but there appear to 

 be several, although still (luite small. Tho largest I have taken were 9 inches in 

 length. I have only taken lour. 



Reproduction. — I cannot say how many young they have j)roduced, although 

 there .seem to bo quite a number iu the pond, ranging from 1^ to 4 inches. 



289. Shiiement of J. IV. .Mitchell, Klkton, Cecil Co., Md., May '^0, 188-2. 



GKO\vril. — A leather carj), weighing ~-i'',; ]H)Uiu1s, and measuring 1? inches iu length, 

 was caught in a liauling-seiue on Monday last at Crother's lishiug-shore, at the mouth 

 of the Susquehanna l\i\»"r. How it came in the waters of the northeast is a mystery, 

 but it is supposed to have escaped fromsome pond. I'he lisli was supposed to be about 

 2 years old. 



290. Statement of David Sedit, Elktov, Cecil Co., Md., .Juhj 21, 1883. 



Disi'OSiTiox OK CAiiP KKCEivi:i). — November 22, 1880, J received 40 very suiall carp. 

 The weather was very cold. I kept them in the house several days until a few died. 

 In November, 1881, I received 100. I have kei)t them in a pond et)vering ,',; of an acre, 

 Avhich I expect to enlarge this season to doultle the present size. Its depth ranges 

 from 1 inch to o feet. The bottom consists mostly of mud. Iu the driest season there 

 is always a stream llowiug from the pond of perhaps 5 gallons per minute. On tho 

 20th of July, when the mercury .stood at (iO^ in the air, it marked 7(K' in the pond. 



Plants. — There are several kinds of plants in it. The principal one reseml>les 

 mint, and in some ]daces covers a considerable part of tho surface of the pond. The 

 carp feed on its white roots, and hide under its foliage. 



Enemii:s. — There are no other lish in tho jioud, but plenty of fi'ogs. Last season 

 there were a good many small turtles, most of which I shot. There is only one small 

 one there now. 



Food. — I feed the carp 2 or 3 times a week, or ofteuev, giving them bread, prin- 

 cipally. Often I give them corn, potatoes, and other vegetables, usually boiled, but 

 not iu great (luantities. All I ever see are in line condition, eat their food eagerly, 

 aud shoot through the water like an arrow. 



Gkowtii. — I do not know how many of the first lot are left, for all were put into 

 the same pond. Some may have got away by an overflow of the dam which occurred in 

 1881. I never weighed any of the carp, but they look, iu the water, to be Irom 11 

 to ir> inches long, aud (luite broad for thelength. They ariV over an inch between the 

 eyes. 



1\i:piu)1>i'CTIOX. — They have produced no young that I know of, but I am expect- 

 ing an increase this season. ■ 1 don't think they have been troubled with any disease. 



DiEFicULTiES.— I have had no dillicnlly with the carp, except that tho winter after 

 I got the first 40 tho melting of the snow caused an overtlow of the dam, aud probably 

 some escaped. 1 have since surrounded my pond with a ditch, which will prevent 

 another overtlow. 1 regard carp culture as certain as that of pcniltry, or as stock- 

 raising of any kind. 



291. Statem(^nt of F. S. Eeerist, Port Deposit, Cecil Co., Md., July 24, 1883. 



Disposition of caup keckived. — I received 50 carp in the spring of 1881, which I 

 have kept iu a i)ond of running water, about | acre iu size, and o feet deep, with a clay 

 bottom. Considerable water passes through it, coming from 2 springs about 400 yards 

 away. 



Plants. — Pleijty of grass grows near it which the fish feed upon. 



Enemies. — I have some trout in the same stream; also frogs. 



Gkowtii. — I do not know how many of the original carp are still left or how many 

 young they have produced, as I have not lished much for them. I caught 2 la.st sum- 

 mer, one weighing 1 pound aud the other 2 pounds. 



