[79] CARP-CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. TUT 



Growth.— Thoy have grown finely, many of tbem wcisrhin,.- from U to oi Tin„nfl« 

 With a grassy bottom and a higher temperature they wo^uld pv, Sh" 1 aW ,C 1^4 

 their size. This sliows the rapid growth under adverse circnn.stauces Manv of the 

 fish are large enough to spawn next summer. ' " 



357, Statement of Simon W. Ratheway, Isliiujton, Norfolk Co., Mass., .Im/?. 29, 1883. 



Disposition OF carp received.-I have been feeding ,,arp to vipers, and am now 

 engaged m kming the vipers (or water snakes), an occupatiou wliich -ivcs me much 

 pleasure. When I get the vipers killed I will try carp again. 



358. Staiemeni of Martin Green, Green Hill, Worcester, Worcester Co., Mass., J^;;. 11, 1833. 



Disposition of carp received.-I received 16 carp November 19, 1880 31 Novem- 

 ber 10, 1831, and 19 November IH, 18S1. I estimate that the i>ond contains 70 ar-res 

 with an average depth of 15 feet. It contains peat, muck, and the ordiuarv sw-iran 

 grass. The temperature August 7, 1881, was 70". It is fed eutireiy by spr'iuo-s uud 

 overdows all the year except summer. " ° ' 



Enemies. — It contains frogs, snapping and speckled turtles. 



Growth.— In the spring of 1881, while a temporary gate was reuioved for lettiu"- f he 

 water off, most of the first lot of carp escaped. September 24, 1881, I found 1 'carp 

 remaining, which was 14A inches in length, having grown 12^ inches siuce November 

 19. 1880. 



Destroying other fish.— At that time I bailed out many other fish, such as cat- 

 fish shiners, perch, and flat-fish. I then worked into the mud 10 pounds of quick-lime 

 to destroy all other fish before again int-roducing carp. 



Reproduction. — During the spring of 1883, lish G or 8 inches long have been seen 

 supposed to be carp, but, as it is not convenient to draw off the pond, I cannot now 

 state the condition of the fish. 



MIC Ha O AN. 

 359. Statement of C. C. Siftfon, MilUnmjh, Berrien Co., Mich., July 28, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received.-I received 10 carp, 5 scale and 5 leather, in .I;ni- 

 uary, 1880. On receiving them I put them in a hatching trough for a short time and 

 then placed them in a pond 8 by 12 feet which had been used for a trout nursery. I 

 supposed the trout were all out, but there was 1 h;ft, and in 24 hours be liad partially 

 eaten them up, so much so as to kill them. I have given up trout-culture and waul 

 some more carp. There was no difficulty ex(;ept the cannibal trout. 



3()0. Statement of P. B. Tuttle, Niles, Berrien Co., Mich., June 13, 1884. 



Disposition of carp received.— The pond in which my carp are is excavated in 

 muck soil, which naturally is full of vegetation. The depth varies from li to 5 feet. 

 The pond can be drained entirely dry in a few hours. The How of water can be reg- 

 ulated from 1 to 40 inches, and is every way adapted to the propagation of carp. 



Another pond adjacent to this, with a larger area, is adapted to the keeping of breed- 

 ers. As soon as the carp are liatched in the small pond, the larger carp are removed 

 to this pond and kept separate from the young carp. My fishery was constrncted by 

 the Michigan commissioners, and the estimated cost of ponds aud building was .$5,000. 

 It was given up by the State because the water proved too warm lor the culture of 

 speckled trout. 



Reproduction. — I have between 40 and 50 carp 3 years old. A few young were 

 hatched last season, but were lost by a defective gate. Four years ago thousands of 

 young carp were raised here, and carp grew in 14 months to weigh over 7 pounds. I 

 would like to undertake the breeding of trout, and would be glad to exchange some 

 carp for some of your trout at Northville. 



. 361. Statement of Martin MetcaJf, Battle Creel; Calhoun Co., Mich., July 26, 1S83. 



Disposition of carp received. — In the summer of 1880 I received some carp and 

 put them in a small spring, from which they were lost. I received the second lot in 

 the summer of lb81, and the third lot in 1882. The first winter I kept them in a lai'g<^ 

 muddy-bottom spring pond, and transferred them in the spring to a nnuldy bottom 

 and weeily pond cut oft' from running water. As there is no circulation in hot 

 weather the water gets very warm. 



Plants and enemies. — The pond contains water-cresses, flags, aud some frogs, but 

 nothing else objectionable. 



H. Mis. QS 47 



