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CARP-CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. 739 



Growth.— After depositing tlie first lot I saw nothing of them, althon'rli I looked 

 carefully all last summer, but in April of this year, just 2 years after^depositino- 

 them, I found 3 old ones, each 21 inches louff and weigiiing 6 pounds each. They 

 had been dead a long time and appeared quite shriveled. My mau claims to have 

 seen during this summer a large and a small one also in the pond. To-day I looked 

 in the large pond for carp, but saw none, I think, however, there must be some under 

 the vegetation, which is very thick. 



368. Statement of E. 0. Siveeny, St. Paul, Eamsey Co., Minn., Mar. 27, 1833. 



Mortality.— With few exceptions, the first lot of carp appeared to bo in excel- 

 lent condition when received. But they are evidently now, or were then, under the 

 influence of a peculiar disease which is rapid and fatal,"for they die in large numbers. 

 Before death there is a remarkable bloatiug and protrusion of the eyes from the 

 sockets in a singular manner as if the whole carcass was distended to bursting, yet 

 remaining remarkably limp and free from rUjor mortis so usual in small fish when 

 dead. The healthiest and more vigorous ones prefer the cooler current through the 

 center of the tank, while the weak and sickly ones mope about in the quiet corners 

 where there is but littJe or no motion to the waters. 



369. Statement of John Fisher, Stillwater, Washington Co., Minn., Aug. 29, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — I received 15 carp in November, 1880, and 20 in 

 November, 1882. My pond or lake will average 65 rods wide and 90 rods long, with 

 5 feet of water and 1 foot or more of mud. It is land-locked, having no inlet or out- 

 let. The water is icy cold in winter. 



Plants. — It contains pond-lilies, common water-grass, and many kinds of weeds. 



Enemies. — Frogs are plenty, and a small kind of turtle, sometimes called terrapin. 

 I think the first lot were all taken out by a kingfisher. 



Protection from enemies. — If I could get some more that would attain consid- 

 erable size before winter, so as to be able to stand the cold, I would protect them by 

 putting down a crib of boards 12 by 21 feet, or larger, sinking them in the nmddy bot- 

 tom where the water is deep, and then make a slat covering to protect them from 

 kingfishers. I could then feed them and keep them away from their enemies until 

 they begin to breed. 



Food. — Until the lake froze over, I dropped in mixed cornmeal and flour and dough 

 near the place where I put the carp. I have not fed them since. 



Difficulties. — I have never seen any carp since a fev/ days after putting them in. 

 There seems to be no difficulty, unless perhaps a slight tincture of oxide of iron, in 

 the water. Other lakes and streams in this vicinity freeze to a depth of 20 inches. 

 My pond has never shown over 17 inches of ice. 



Other fish. — Seeing no signs of carp, in the summer of 1881 I put in some mullet, 

 red-horse, sunfish, bass (or crappie), and pout (catfish), all from Lake Saint Croix, 

 together with 15 bass from a land-locked lake 4 miles away. A.11 of the red-horse and 

 mullet and some of the sun-fish and pout have been found already along the shore. 

 None of the bass have been seen, but the lake is full of pouts of every size. The 

 red-horse and mullet were never seen until found dead, after being in the pond two 

 winters. The bass and carp may be there, but I do not think so. 



370. Statement of John li. McLean, St. James, Watonwan Co., Minn., July 26, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — I received 16 carp in 1881 and 20 in 1882, and put 

 tbem in a small lake, with a bottom of mud and sand. There I left them, and have 

 taken no particular care of them since. 



371. Statement of H. C. D. Ordorff, Monticello, Wright Co., Mimi., Oct. 26, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — I received 15 carp in October, 1881, and a second 

 lot in November, 1882. My pond covers about i of an acre; it has from 3 to 4 feet of 

 water, and 9 feet of marsh. In winter it freezes to a depth of from 24 to 30 inches. 

 Water flows through it in spring, the outlet being protected by a wire screen. I 

 made a pool 16 feet square and 6 icet deep near the pond, in which I put the first lot, 

 but they all got out. I put the last ones into the pond, and have never seen them 

 since. I do not know how many are left, or whether they have produced any young. 



Plants.— The pond contains water-lilies, and its bottom is overgrown with moss 

 and weeds. It yields no better than the carp iiouds in Germany. 



Enejiies.— There are bull-heads, minnows, two kinds of turtles, and a great many- 

 largo frogs in it. 



Food, — I fed my first carp once a day with lettuce o.nd bread. 



