754 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [96] 



purposes. I think we Lave tlie very best of soil for raising the German carp, and 

 also the best of water, as we exclude the rain-water and depend on soft spring water 

 to supply our ponds. 



436. Statement of William A. Reid, ShelMna, Sheliy Co., Mo., July 27, 1883. 



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

 more were given to nie in November, 1882. I had an old pond of some years' stand- 

 ing. In August, 1879, I drained it thoroughly, and enlarged it, scraping out all the 

 mud down to the solid clay, so .is to make it about 2 feet deejier. After being fin- 

 ished, it was exposed to the hot summer sun for at least two months (August and 

 September) before there was any water in it. It is now about 200 feet long, 60 feet 

 wide, and from 4 to 6 feet deep. 



Plants. — Smartweed and other wild grasses grow around the edges. 



Enemies. — In November, 1880, I jmt in the 20 carp ; in the following August I 

 dragged the pond with a seine and found no carp, but found minnows by the thou- 

 sand, some perch, and 1 or 2 catfish. Last summer (1882) there were any quantity of 

 perch, aud I caught 3 or 4 catfish, but no minnows whatever. There seemed to be 

 thousands of perch of all sizes. I caught a number of messes of full-grown ones. 

 This summer I have been unable to see a single perch, but there are a good many 

 small catfish, besides turtles and frogs in abundance. Now, the wonder to me is how 

 these various kinds of fish got into the pond. It had at no time any connection with 

 water below it, and all the water that went into it was what fell in my grass lot 

 above the pond. It is just impossible that they got into it from below, and of course 

 there was no place above for them to come from. How did all that multitude of 

 perch that was there last summer and lall disa^jpear so suddi nly ? I have come to 

 the conclusion that minnows, perch, and catfish cannot be kept out of a pond here 

 unless it is arched over aud thoroughly cemented so that a chigger cannot get in. I 

 was extremely careful and thought I had a dead-sure thing against other ijsh. Can 

 you offer any explanation f 



Food. — I fed the carp for some time with bread and cabbage, but finally quit feed- 

 ing, because I thought all were dead. 



437. Statement of Jesse Jennings, Piketon, Stoddard Co., Mo., Fel. 18, 1884, 



GiiOWTii. — The carp which I received in November, 1881, now weigh nearly lii 

 pounds apiece. I expect them to increase during the coming summer. 



438. Statement of A. Hnibs, Mounds, Vernon Co., Mo., Dec. 1, 1882. 



Disposition of carp recei\t;d. — I planted my carp last fall in a newly con- 

 structed pond, supjilied with water from fields. No other fish had been placed in it. 



Food. — Last winter being an open one here, the carp had plenty to eat. 



Growth and reproduction. — August 14, 1882, my original carp were from 12 to 

 16 inches long, and the numerous young in the pond about the size of my old fish 

 when planted. Now the original carp are from 2 to 2^ feet long, and the young from 

 1 to 10 inches. 



NEBRASKA. 



439. Statement of B. E. B, Kennedy, Omaha, Douglas Co., Neir., Apr. 14, 1883. 



Fungus. — On visiting our fisheries yesterday I find that many of the young carp 

 are affected with a kind of parasite or fungus, which proves fatal. With some it ap- 

 pears on the back, some will have a strip nearly around the body, and some about the 

 fins and tail. This fungus is easily removed, and the skin or llesh under it has the 

 appearance as if the spot had been blistered. Several hundred have already died, 

 and many more are similarly situated, and, unless there is some remedy administered, 

 all will be likely to die. We have separated the afl;ected ones from the otheVs, hoping 

 to stay the spread of the disease, if it is one. Those that show no fungus ajjpear all 

 right aud take food readily. 



Note by Professor Baird on fungus. — Where the carp are taken from their 

 winter quarters for our spring shipments there seems to be a general tendency to the 

 development of the fungus. It is probably due to the abrasions produced in handling, 

 the develo]iment of fungus taking place in consequence of the emaciated condition of 

 the fi.sh after wintering. We do not find this diseased condition in the fish taken out 

 of the ]3ouds for the fall and winter shipments. 



I am at a loss what remedy to suggest. It is possible that you may be able to 



