[65] CARP-CULTURE IX ^IIE UNITED STATES. 723 



Plants and enemies.— It oontjiins bnlru.sbcs and wild grass. TIuto arc no other 

 tish in it, bnt therft are a few fio'^a and small turtles. 



Food. — I feed the carp with boiled potatoes about every 2 weeks. Have beard 

 that boiled corn-iueal is good for them. 



Gkowtii. — Nearly all of the original lot remain, last week l)eing thi^ first time I 

 caught any, when I took 5. They weigh a j)ouud and over. 



Kei'Ikjduction. — The water is so muddy that I have not been able to see any young. 



1 have been told that there are no young ones for 3 years. 



308. Statement of Benjamin G. Cisael, Highland, Howard Co., Md., July 20, 1683. 



Disposition of carp received.— In November, 1880, 1 received 'yO scale carp about 



2 inches in length. The pond in which I kept them is i of an acre in siz«! and from 



3 to 4 feet deep, with a northern exposure. The bottom is composed of fuller's earth. 

 It is fed from a spring 20 yards distant. The volume of water llowing constantly 

 would lill a f-iiich pipe. The water in the pond is warm in summer and the balant/o 

 of the year cold. 



Plants. — Bulrushes, wire grass, red top, and timothy grass grow around the wa- 

 ter's edge. There are none growing in the pond proper. The tish seem to feed mostly 

 on the roots of red toj). 



Ene.mies. — There are no fish in the pond except the carp, but there are plenty of 

 frogs and tadjioles, and I catch a turtle occasionally. 



Food. — I give them corn-meal once a week. They arc very fond of bread crumbs, 

 especially those of corn-bread. Sometimes I also give them wheat-bran, which causes 

 the young tish to feed at the surface in schools. The large size are fond of refuse from 

 l^ie kitchen — swill, with bonny-clabber. 



Gkowtii. — In April, 1882, I let tiie water out of the pond, and found 14 carp left, 

 12 inches long. They are now 12, 14, and Ifi inches long. I don't think they are as 

 huge as they should be, owing to the want of aquatic plants, the coldness of the wa- 

 ter, or faults in the construction of the ])ond. '1 In; young are from 1 inch to 7 inches 

 long. 'J'hose that hatched out a year ago last May are 7 inches long, and are a very 

 nice, sweet tish for eating. There are a great many 3, 4, and ^ inches long. 



REPiiODUCTiON. — Last year my carp produced from 3,000 to 4,000 young. I can't 

 see a great many of this year's hatching as yet. 



Disposition of young. — Beside those which we have used for tli(; table, I gave 

 30 of the second size to one of my neighbors. 



MlscKLLANEous. — I have bad no difficulty in their care, but, on the other hand, 

 they have furnished a delightful pastime for my leisure moments. 



309. Statement of Samuel Hopkins, Highland, Hotcard Co., Md., July 23, 1883. 



Disposition of caiu' received. — In the spring of 18801 received 8 scale carp, and 

 in 1882 I received 220 carp from Druid Hill, Baltimore. My pond covers one-fourth of 

 an acre, has a muddy l)ottom, and is from (5 inches to fi feet in depth. It is supplied 

 with water from a spring and gets warm in summer. 



Plants. — It contains grass and some afjuatic j)lants, but no otht-r fish, turtles, «fcc. 



Food. — I have sometimes fed tiie carp on corn bread, but only seldom. 



Growth. — Eighteen months ago oof the original ones averaged b pounds in weight 

 and were 17 inches long. They did not breed any that summer; I do not know 

 whether they have yet spawned. 



Miscellaneous. — I have disposed of none except a few to eat. They will be more 

 appreciated as time goes on. The culture of fish in our State has undoubtedly been 

 of great advantage. 



310. Statement of John T. Ronton, Went Friendnhii), Howard Co., Md., July 27, 18-3. 



Disposition of carp received. — In November, 1880, I received 50 young carp. 

 The pond covers i of an acre and is now being extended to i of an acre. Its depth is 

 being increased from 2 to 4 feet. The bottom is partly mud and partly gravel and 

 sand. An inch and a half stream of cold si>ring water Hows into (he ])on(l. In the 

 middle of the pond the water is warm, as it is situated in a very warm place. 



Plants.— Some rushes, herd's-grass, and a variety of wild grasses which I do not 

 know the names of grow along the banks of the pond. 



Enemies — There are no other fish, but there are plenty of frog.s, some turtles, and 

 some snakes. 



Food.— I give the carp corn-bread, potatoes, and beans once a day. They are fond 

 of corn-bread, and so are the tadpoles. The turtles like it very well. 



Growth.— There Avere about 40 of the original carp left in February bust, aiid I 

 think there are that many yet. They are from 10 to 12 inches long, 3 to 4 inches wide, 

 and 1^ to 2 inches thick. 



