760 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [102] 



iulet or outlet except a drainage pipe wliicli I laid, whicli is 100 feet long and closed 

 by a gate. The temperature of the water is 75*^ in midsummer. It freezes over in 

 winter; the tish were deposited through a hole cut in ice 6 inches thick. 



Plants. — It contains what wo call " muck-shaws," an aquatic plant with a large 

 pointed leaf aud bearing a yellow blossom. The roots of this form "tussocks," which 

 prevent the lead-line of a seine from keeping the bottom. Mr. Rud. Hessel spoke of 

 oak leaves being detrimental. This pond is the recipient of a large quantity, as small 

 oaks were left on the ground Avhen it was cleared. 



EnEiMIEs. — Catfish, snapi)ing-turtle, and the common small land terrapin occur in 

 the pond, and the snakes aud kingfishers are troublesome. 



Food. — The fish in this pond have never been fed. I have tried to feed them, but 

 they never show themselves, and I was in doubt of their existence until yesterday. 



Growth. — At that time we seined the pond, but among those that we caught only 

 one, to judge from the size, belonged to the original lot. He weighed, I should think, 

 from 2^ to A pounds. In the excitement he slipped through our fingers and escaped. 



For two parties who receipted for them I placed 40 carp, on the 2d of December, 

 18-^0, in oue of our reservoirs, from which we obtain our drinking water, which 

 Professor Cook, our State geologist, says, if it has any fault, is too pure. When de- 

 posited they were from 2 to 2i inches long. I caught one in June which measured 

 6 inches, which I considered a rapid growth, if they hibernate, as they are said to 

 do. These fish are now fi'om 12 to 18 inches in length — I would say, averaging 15 

 inches — and weigh from 2 to 3 pounds. The water in this reservoir is about 12 feet 

 deep and clear. The bottom is composed of clay, covered with what earthy deposit 

 has accumulated in, say, five years; and the margin is rip-rapped. The fish have 

 been exceedingly shy, and we have never succeeded in getting them to take food. 



Reproduction. — In the net 100 feet long which we drew in the pond yesterday we 

 caught 22 carp, besides the old one which escaped us, as related above. Of these, 21 

 averaged G inches in length ; those we took to be yearlings. The other was 1| inches 

 long and was supposed to be of this spring's hatching. The securing of the latter 

 was no doubt an accident, the net having a 1^ inch mesh. The water was muddy 

 when the net was drawn — more so than I had ever seen it ; perhaps made so by cattle. 



Charles E. Noble, esq., who, together with myself, filed the applications for the first 

 lot of carp that came to this county, has a pond of his own, feeds his carp regularly, 

 and has been successful with them. He never saw his year-old fish until about a 

 month ago, when he discovered them to be about inches in length and abundant. 



Edible qualitie.s. — I have not yet eaten any carp. I have never regaided them as 

 choice fish, but if they are equal to a moss-bunker they would give to our people, 

 "hewers of wood and drawers of water," a good many of whom spend half their time 

 in the bowels of the earth, a variety in their diet that is wholesome and nutritious, 

 while those who have the means and leisure can spend both in search of something 

 better. 



459. Statement of E.B. Woodruff, J^orriatowu, Morris Co., N.J., Au<j. 20, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received.— About the last of December, 1880, I received 

 about 15 carp. They were put into my pond through 10 inches of ice when there was 

 so little water in it that they must have gone into the muck. The pond had been 

 emptied to get rid of catfish, aud had not been filled. This pond covers about an 

 acre, and has a depth of from 2 to 5 feet. It was originally a muck hole, and the bot- 

 tom is covered with muck. The water ruus from Novemljer to the last of April. It 

 is supplied wholly by surface drainage, but never dries up entirely. The temperature 

 of the water is quite warm in summer. 



Plants. — There are no plants in the pond except water-grasses, and — when the field 

 is seeded — timothy grass grows around the edges. 



Enemies. — It now has no lish in it except the carp, but has the ordinary small frogs 

 of such places, and also small water-turtles. 



Food. — I have thrown in vegetables and bread to see if there were any fish, but 

 have never seeu them take any. 



Growth and reproduction. — Until lately I have not known carp were in the 

 pond, as the water is not at all clear. While'l was absent from home, a short time 

 ago, my farmer caught 2, the largest being more than 12 inches long. He says he 

 should think there were 50 more, at least. 



460. Statement of Monroe Howell, Parsippany, Morris Co., N. J., Aug. 2, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — I received 21 carp in 1880. I have kept them in 

 a pond 7 feet deep covering 20 acres, which I liuilt ex^jressly for them. It has a 

 muddy bottom aud is fed by sx>rings. The amount of water flowing through it would 

 fill a 4-inch ])ipe. 



Plants. — It contains all grasses that are common on ordinary mai'shy land. 



