[83] 



CARP-CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. 741 



Food.— They have all the food they can get from nature, and whenever the'v 

 want it. 



Miscellaneous.— I know nothing of the old ones, nor have I seen auv yonwr ones 

 I lound it difficult to catch any. '^ 



378. Statement of E. G. Peyton, Hazleliurst, Copiah Co., Miss., JuIij'ZS, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received.— I received 20 carp lato in 1880 and 20 mirror 

 carp last year. I have 2 ponds with muddy bottom ; one 100 feet by 200 and the 

 other 100 by 150 feet, and from 3 inches to 10 feet in deptli. The ponifs are'siippiie.l 

 by spring water, and at this season of the year it is warm and the carp seem to thri\ c 

 in it. 



Plants. — The ponds contain grasses. 



Enemies.— There are plenty of frogs and craw-Hsh and one or two turtles. Two 

 large cathsh were found in the pond December, 1882. 



Food.— I feed them once a day on scraps from the table, bread, ])otatoes, lettuce, 

 corn, chops, iS:c. 



Growth.— There are 8 of the first lot which are not less than 2 feet in length, and 

 weigh from 5 to 7 pounds each. November, 1881, 7 of the carp were 10 iuches'lou- 

 and weighed 2 pounds; March, 1882, tbey were 18 inches long, and on drainiug tli- 

 pond, December 15, 1682, I caught 24 large carp measuring 16 inches in length and 

 weighing 2 pounds. These were planted in the winter of lti81-'82. 



Reproduction.— Last year they produced about 300 young, which are now from 

 7 to 15 inches in length. The carp were more backward in spawning this thjin 

 last season. By May 15, 1883, there were young 1 inch long. I first saw young carp 

 in my pond in April, le82. I drained the pond December, 1882, and found"275 >°)udu, 

 some as htrge as good-sized eating perch, and others from 3 to 6 inches long at th.' 

 time named. 



Disposition of young.— I supplied some of my neighbors with youni-- in 188'> 



1 sold about 200 of them. 



Difficulties.— My most serious difficulty has been to keep turtles, frogs, craw-fish, 

 and snakes out. I fear the craw-fish and frogs eat the eggs of the carp. 



379. Statement of William Oliver, treasurer of Mississipiri Mills, Wesson, Copiah Co.,Mis.'\, 



May 2, 1883. 



Growth. — T received 18 carp, from 3 to 4 inches long, November 18, 1881. About 



2 weeks ago a car]) was killed in one of my ponds and found to weigh 15 iiounds gros.s, 

 and measured 2^ feet in length. 



Edible qualities. — Those who ate the carp say it was as fine as trout. 



380. Statement of W. W. Kelsey, Lewishurfj, De Soto Co., Miss., Nov. 5, 1882. 



Growth. — The fish I received last December are doing well, and they will weiivh 

 from 1| to 3 pounds. 



381. Statement of G. W. Mason, Lewishury, De Soto Co., Miss., July 17, 1882. 



Groavth. — The 20 carp received in December, 18S1, were seen in May, 1882, for the 

 first time since they were placed in the pond. As seen in the shallows. they appe.i:- 

 sufficiently large for table use. They grow and thrive well in our waters, and when 

 called come for food like pigs. I have seen no young yet. 



382. Statement of John Tost, Brandon, Franlclin Co., Miss., July 30, 1882. 



Disposition of carp received.— About the middle of December, 1881, I receive! 

 20 carp and placed them in a bos 2| feet square by 20 inches deep. I bored a numb' r 

 of small holes to allow the free circulation of the water running from the spring, and 

 put a rock and a few shovelsfull of dirt in the bos to hold it down. I have two ad- 

 jacent jionds, and in one I subsequently placed all the carp. 



Food. — I feed the carp on cabbage leaves, lettuce, tomatoes, peaches, apples, and 

 crumbs of corn-bread. 



Enemies. — The carp were placed temporarily in the bos until the pond could he 

 rid of the sun-fish, bream, and catfish which inhabited it. I placed these fish in one 

 , of my ponds. 



Growth. — A carp was captured the first day of the jiresent month which was 12 

 inches long. This carp was 3 inches long when placed in the i)ond, and shows a g;iiu 

 of Oinches in length in 6 mouths. 



How TO catcu carp. — A 12-inch carii was caught with worm used as a bait. 



