736 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [78] 



352. Statement of William F. Martindale, Enfield, Eampshire Co., Mass., Aug. 6, 1883. 



Disposition of carp keceived. — I received 15 carp in November, 1880. My pond 

 is 60 by 80, with an annex of 12 by 40 feet. The water is from 1 to 5 feet deep. The 

 bottom is muck and yellow loam. The water comes from springs 20 rods distant in 

 quantity enough to fill a 2-inch pipe. Its temperature August 2 was 52° at the spring 

 and 66° at the pond. 



Plants.— The pond contains a fine round water grass that the fish pull from the 

 bottom and eat. There is also a common water vine. 



Enemies. — The pond contains no other fish, but some frogs. A fish-hawk took one 

 of the old ones and a water snake 2 or 3 of the smaller ones. 



Food. — I feed them once a day on sweet-corn and rye, boiled, and on various kinds 

 of grain and bread. 



GuoWTH.— Last September the 2-year old measured from 12 to 15 inches. 



Reproduction. — I do not know how many young there are. The pond appeared 

 to have a large supply last fall. 



Difficulties. — I think I have lost a part of the fish from the loss of water in the 

 spring, caused by the action of frost on the dam, which is an artificial one. There 

 has been no serions difficulty with the fish. I have been very much interested in 

 them, and I think they will become of much value. 



353. Statement of Lor in Barrus, Goshen, Hampshire Co., Mass., Aug. 20, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — Hiram Packard, whose pond I have bought, re- 

 ceived 18 carp November 9, 1880. The pond covers an acre, contains mud and peat, 

 and varies from 1 to 6 I'eet in depth. The influx at low water would fill a G-iucli 

 pijie ; at high water there is quite a volume. The temperature is from 60° to 70°. 



Plants. — In the shallow water there grows coarse grass, a sedge eel-grass and a 

 mixture of fine grass and moss. 



Enemies. — I have seen a few small frogs, a few small dace, and occasionally a 

 suuill brook turtle. 



Food.— I have not fed them, but I think there is an abundant natnral supply. 



Growth. — The 4 that remain would weigh in May, when I drew the pond off", from 

 5 to 6 ]>ounds each. One of them measured 19 inches in length. The first year 

 they weighed 1 pound, the second 3 pounds, and now, 6 pounds. Three of them look 

 alike, having scales with the same general appearance, about as largo as a thumb in 

 length. The fourth one has scales twice as large and of a brighter color. 



Reproduction. — There is an appearance of some young fish in schools on the top of 

 the water occasionally, but they vanish when one api)rouches. I am uncertain 

 whether they are carp. I intend to stock another pond .shortly. 



Difficulties. — The pond froze over the night I had put the carp in, and I think 

 they failed to find good winter quarters. 



354. Statement of John L. Shorei/, Canibridgeport, Middlesex Co., Mass., Sept. 15, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — Three years ago I received through Mr. E. A. 

 Brackett 7 very small carp and put them in a muddy pond where there were a good 

 many frogs. I have seen no trace of them since and think the frogs have eaten them 

 up. 



355. Statement of Geo. M. French, Holliston, Middlesex Co., Mass., Aug. 10, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received.— I received 15 carp in July, 1880. The pond, or 

 lake, covers 450 acres, is from 25 to 30 feet deep in the deepest place, has a bottom of 

 mud, gravel, and sand It is fed by springs only. We put the carp in an artificial 

 pond side of this lake and think they escaped into the lake. 



Enemies. — The lake contains natural fishes, such as pickerel, perch, catfish, 

 shiners, suckers, and besides is being stocked with land-locked salmon, white perch 

 and trout. 



356. Statement of T. J. Marsh, jr., Tewksiury, Middlesex Co., Mass., Dee., 1882. 



Disposition of carp received. — The 400 or 500 carj) received by the State Fish 

 Commissioners in the fall of 1880 were placed in the reservoir of the Tewksbury alms- 

 house for several reasons. First, they were received too late in the season to pre- 

 pare a pond for them ; secondly, to give a chance to test their expense. The water is 

 cold spring-water from what formerly was a trout stream. The bottom of the pond 

 is paved with stone. The low temperature of the water prevents vegetable growthj 

 and consequently renders it an uulavorable place for carp. 



foop, — I feed the carp with stalo bi'ead from the almshouse, 



