[67] 



CARP-CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. 725 



flows through it. Last fall I made an additional pond jtist bi'low this one the same 

 size, and in all respects like it except that the water runs in fmiu the lirst poud instead 

 of directly from the spring. I put 1,200 in this poud in April. 



Plants and exe.miks.— Grasses grow in small (|uautities around the edges of the 

 pond, of which I do not know the names. There are no Irogs nor turtles and no other 

 iish. 



Food.— I give the carp baked corn bread and boiled corn (shelled) 2 or :! times a 

 week. 



Growth. — The old ones weighed from 2 to 3J pounds in April, 1883. I have U) 

 carp left of the original lot. (See uuder Difficulty.) 



Rkpkoductiox.— I had about 3,000 young carp in April, which weighed from 2 to 

 3i ])Ounds. The old ones have spawned since. 



Disposition of young. — I have eaten about a dozen and gave 3 persons some to 

 stock ponds with. I have also stocked another poud of my own. 



Difficulties. — I have had no trouble with them, but have been disappointed in 

 the slow growth they haA-e made. I drained the new pond which I stocked last A])ril, 

 a few days ago, and was surprised to tiud the hsh about the same size as when 1 ]>ut 

 them in, although one of them had roe in it. The only objection I have to them is 

 that they do not grow. 



316. Statement of Robert M. Mackall, Olnexj, Montgomerij Co., Md., July 28, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received.— About the 1st of November, 1880, I received 

 TjO carp. I have kept them in a i)ond that I made for ice, about i of an acre in extent 

 and from 2 to fi feet deep. One-third of the bottom is gravel; the balance clay. 

 About 40 gallons of water per minute tlow through it. 



Plants and ene.mies. — Clover and timothy grow around the banks of the poud. 

 There are no Iish in it except carp, but there are a few frogs, and occasionally an eel 

 gets in. Snakes also infest the vicinity. The only turtle which I have .seen this year 

 I sliot. I think nearly all of the original lot were killed by negroes and turtles. 



Food. — I give the carp boiled corn, potatoes, cabbage, and bread, feeding them 

 ^nce or twice a week. 



Growth and reproduction. — The old ones are now from 15 to 24 inches long and 

 weigh from 2 to 4 pounds. The young ones are from -t inch to 6 inches loug. I drew 

 the water from the poud last spring, and found 2 or 3 barrels of large Iish in it, and 

 many small ones. 1 did not eat any, as it was about spawning time. 



Difficulties. — My pond is at some distance from my house and out of sight of it, 

 so that parties can hsh in it without much fear of detection. I believe it will jiay any 

 one to make a pond for carp if in sight of the house. 



317. Statement of Capt. John T. Fletcliall, PooleamUe, Montgomery Co., Md., July 28, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — I received 40 carp in November, 1880, and 

 23 leather carp in April, 1881. I have kept them in a poud about ^j of an acre in size, 

 with a depth ranging from 2 to 4 feet. The bottom is composed of loam mixed with 

 clay. There is a spring at the head which supplies the pond. The water has a tem- 

 perature of 70° in summer and freezes over in winter. The quantity of water 1 do 

 not know. 



Plants. — There are in the pond rushes, wild grass, and other growths usually found 

 on marshy or low lands. 



Enemies. — It contains quite a lot of water terrapins, which I destroy, and all kinds 

 of water frogs. Have noticed 1 turtle. 



Food. — I feed the carp with wheat, corn, bread, and sometimes scraps of vegetable 

 parings. I have no regular time for feeding them; probably do so, on an average, 

 once a week. 



Growth and reproduction. — I do not know how many of the original lot I have, 

 as the water has never been drawn from the pond. The ones I caught last sjjriug 

 (1S83) weighed from I to 2 pounds; I think, how-ever, that lean see larger ones 

 swimming about. I cannot tell how many young they have produced, but 1 cau sec 

 different sizes when feeding them. I can see them ranging from, say, ^ an inch to 

 4 or 5 inches in length. 



318. Statement of William N. Young, Poolesville, Montgomery Co., Md., Sej)t. 28, 1883. 



Growth. — I thought that all of my carp were dead, until June 1, 1882. wlien I saw 

 indications of them, and, on fishing with a net, raised out of the water .'. or (i as broad 

 as my hand. 



Keproduction. — The carjt you sent me 3 years ago are doing well, and I have a 

 fine lot of young. 



