[113] 



CARP -CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. 771 



Growth.— The 4 reniaiuii g carp iivorage from 4 to 6 pounds. 



Difficulties.— Small boys killed 5 carp; 2 others, one ofwliich was full of spawn 

 jumped over the dam and perished. I am at a loss to know why the ones remaiuin<^ 

 do not increase. ' " 



508. Statement of Niram Vaughn, Worcester, Otsego Co., N. Y., J m^. 20, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received.— The 20 carp received on November 26, 1880 and 

 15 in December, 1881, I put in a pond 30 by 40 feet, Avith an averafi-.^ depth of about 

 3 feet aud a muddy bottom. It is supplied with spring water, which is cool in sum- 

 mer and warm in winter. 



Enemies.— The pond is inhabited by nothing that disturbs carj). 



Difficulties.— The first lot of cai-p were sickly when received, and soon died. 

 The second lot I have not seen since I placed them in the pond. 



.509. Statement of Thomas Clapham, lioslgn, Queens Co., K Y., July'Z7, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received.— The 20 carp received in 1881 and the 20 more re- 

 ceived in li!':82 I kept in a small pond 12 by 2.5 feet until August, 1883, when I removed 

 them to a 2-acre ])oud. This pond has an average depth of 4 feet and a bottom of mud 

 and clay. A constant 8-inch stream of water flows into it. In summer the tempera- 

 ture is about 65°, and in winter it rarely freezes over. 



Plants. — White pond-lilies, water-cress, conferva (frog-s]tittle), and various kinds 

 of grass grow in the pond. 



Enemies. — Common brook trout, California brook trout, minnows, frogs, eels, and 

 3 varieties of turtle inhabit the pond. 



Food. — As the pond contains a great quantity of natural food, I never feed the 

 carp. They eat conferva, and are causing it to disappear from the pond. 



Growth. — In August, 1882, the largest carp weighed 6 ounces, and in June, 1883, 

 one that I caught with an artificial fly weighed 3 pounds. This great growtli is to 

 me simply wonderful. Daily I see 8 in a school, and they are growing rapidly. 



Reproduction. — This summer I noticed many small fish about IJ inches long, which 

 are different from any I have seen. I think thej- are carp. 



Hardihood. — Having tried various experiments witli individual carp, I am con- 

 vinced that they will thrive in muddy and stagnant water. I have 3 which have been 

 in a box sunk in the ground in my garden since last fall. Although the water in it is 

 stagnant and during warm weather very offensive, yet the carp remain healthy. We 

 have hundreds of surface drainage ponds on Long Island, in which carp would do 

 well and furnish a deal of cheaj) food in ])laces where fish are rarely obtainable. 



510. Statement of Mrs. Leonire M. S. Monlton, Fosli/n, Queens Co..X. Y., Oct. 2, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received.— I received 22 carp December 15, 1880; cut the 

 ice and put them in. My pond covers about an acre, and has a muddy bottom. I put 

 a wire screen over the outlet in the winter of 188l-'82. The screen became clogged 

 with leaves; the water I'ose in my absence, and broke a place in my dam, through 

 which I think the carp escape<l. The pond is fed from small springs on the hillsidt? 

 with verj' cold water, but the surface water at the outlet is warm. The leaves from 

 willow, cedar, .sycamore, and wild cherry trees form deltrix and mud at the bottom. 



Plants. — The pond is particulaily free from ))laut.s. Wild roses, alders, clematis, 

 fens, milk-weed, Virginia creeper, and wild grape grow along the bank. 



Eneaiies. — The pond contains a few ,sun-tish, minnows, frogs, and turtles. 



t-'ooD.— I did not feed the carj), but thought of throwing bread on the surface, as I 

 saw the old women do at Fontainebleau, France, but not seeing any carp I did not 

 throw away any bread. 



MISCELLANKOUS. — 1 believe my pond adapted to carp culture, and am anxious 1o 

 know where the carp are. 



511. Statement of 0. 1). Bitrtis, Syosset, Queens Co., N. Y.,Juli/ 27, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received.— The 10 carp received .-ibout 3 years ago I put in 

 a pond covering about 5 acre.s, with a maximum dei)th of 7 feet and a muddy 

 bottom. It has no outlet. 



Plants.— I keep the pond free of plants. 



Enemies.— Sun-fish, goldfish, eels, turtles, aud frogs are found in great numbers 

 in the pond. I do not feed the carp. 



Difficulties,— The enemies of the carp that inhabit the pond destroyed them. 



