770 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [112] 



break, and ouo is now iu the possession of Mr. E. G. Blackford, of New York. The 

 other two I Lave in a small temporary pond with those just received. The 'A meas- 

 ure 16 inches each, and will weigh 3 pounds. They seem to like to get down iu the 

 mud since the cold weather commeuced and seem rather dormant. 



504. Statement of Wickham T. Shaw, Middletown, Orange Co., N. Y., Aug. 4, 1883. 



DiSPOSiTiox OF CARP RECEIVED. —The 20 carp received in January, 1881, I put in 

 a mill-pond covering about ^ of an acre, with a maximum depth of 7 feet, a muddy 

 bottom, and f d by a stream that is warm in summer. 



Plants and enemies. — Plants indigenous here grow in the pond. Catfish, a few 

 bull-frogs, and occasionally sn.apping-turtles are found in it. I do not feed the carp. 



Difficulties — I have not been able to seine out any of the carp, but I have been 

 informed that they have beeu seen up the stream, and large in size. 



505. Statement of Chas. E. Harr, Newiurgh, Orange Co. N. Y., Sept. 30, 1882. 



Disposition of carp received. — On the 5th of November, 1881, 25 young carp 

 were put in the cemetery pond, of which Mr. William Westervelt is keeper. It is 

 located at Cedar Hill, 7 miles north of here. 



Growth. — Mr. Westervelt caught one of them the first of last April, which was 8 

 inches long and weighed over a pound. To-day one weighing about 2f pounds and 

 measuring- 15 inches in length, was taken from a shallow pool which connects witli 

 the cemetery pond by a small brook. 



Vitality. — The 2 gentlemen who were driving by noticed it in water scarcely 

 deep enough to cover it. They picked it up and brought it in their carriage to town, 

 and when placed in my aquarium it revived. It was probably washed out of the 

 pond wbich was broken during the recent high water, and had several bruises on it. 



In addition to the above test the carp was put in a small bait-kettle, and sent to 

 Mr. E. G. Blackford, Fulton Market, New York, for identiticatiou. He pronounced 

 it a line specimen of the leather carp, and stated that he had forwarded, through 

 Hon. Lewis Beach, small carp to that neighborhood in November, 1881. It had grown 

 in 10 mouths from 2 ounces to 46 ounces. 



506. Statement of John C. Donaldson, GilhcrtaviUe, Otsego Co., JV. Y., Aug. 1, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — During the first winter I kept the 20 carp received 

 iu November, l-'80, iu a s|)riiig. In the ibiiowing May I [)ut 'J in a pond coveriug 20 

 scpiarti rods, wi.li a depth all the way up to 2 feet, and a bottom of mud from 2 to 5 

 feet deep. In wet season the tlow of water is 2 inches, but during the dry season 

 only a small spring iu the pond supplies it with water. It is always cool at the 

 bottom, ;ind in very warm seasons the surface water is 80°. 



Plants. — In the shallow i>arts of the pond grow rushes (Eleocharia paluslris), with 

 a little scratch-grass, cat-tail Hag, and pimpernel. 



Enemiks. — All kinds of frogs and lizards, many water-beetles, and larvae of dragon- 

 flies, but no fish nor turtles inhabit the pond. Before but not since the carp were 

 put in the pond toads frequented it to lay their eggs. 



Food. — I give the c.irp crumbs daily. Buckwheat cakes seem to be their favorite 

 food. For nearly 2 years I did not feed them. Last summer they dug up all the 

 rushes, leaving the stems to float upon the surface of the water. 



Growth. — Occasionally I see from 3 to 4 of the original carp. Last April I caught 

 one that weighed 2 pounds and 10 ounces, and I estimate their present weight to 

 vary from 2 to 5 pouuds. The 7 I left in the spring do not average more than 4 

 inches in length. During the first winter 4 died. 



Reproduction. — I have counted 100 young at one time. Last year's young, having 

 been fed frequently, grow much faster than the original lot, and average J pound 

 each. This year's fry are very small, and a few weeks since they became so tame as 

 to eat out of my hand. 



Difficulties. — Two or three times most of the water has escaped from the pond 

 through the holes made in the dam by frost and mice. 



507. Statement of J. T. Welton, Schenevus, Otsego Co., iV. Y., July 28, 1883, 



Disposition of carp received. — The 11 carp received on June 1, 1880, I put in 

 pond 40 by 75 feet, with a depth varying from I to 3 feet, and fed by a 3-inch stream 

 of cold spring water. 



Plants and enemies. — Marsh grasses and various kinds of weeds grow in the pond. 

 Frogs alone also inhabit it. 



Food. — I give the carp crackers or bread, but not oftener than once in 2 weeks. 



