774 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [116] 



Plants ajs^d enemies. — Poud-lilies grow in tlie pond. The book trout that in- 

 liabit the poud probably fed on the carji. 



Food. — While in the small poud, I gave the cari) bread and cabbage leaves. I sel- 

 dom give them any food now. 



Caup in South Bay. — The carp escaped into South Bay when my mill was under- 

 going repair's. I learn that carp of large size have been taken there. 



524. Statement of Lester R. Davis, Coram, Suffolk Co., K. ¥. , Sept. 2, 1883. 



Growth. — A few days ago I took from my i)ond 2 leather carp weighing, respect- 

 ively, 5 and 5| pounds. When they were placed in the pond 2 years ago they were 

 nothing but an inch of transparency with a bullet head at one end. 



Edible qualities. — The larger of these 2 carp was eaten at the Ichthyophagous 

 Club iu New York. The officers voted it excellent eating. 



How TO CATCH CARP. — I caught the carp with hook and line. 



Sale of carp. — I placed these carp at Mr. Blackford's stand in Fulton Market. 

 These 2 fish haye had no appreciable effect on the markets, but I think carp will 

 soon be an important item in the bill of fare in the Southern and Western States. 



C25. Statement of StehUn c^ Co., Huntington, Suffolk Co., X. ¥., Sept. 20,1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — The 86 carp received in December, 1880, I put 

 in a pond covering over 9 acres, with a sandy and muddy bottom. It is fed by springs, 

 and has no outlet except through gravel. 



Plants and enemies. — A mossy vegetation is found in the pond. Small frogs 

 and water-turtles infest it. 



Food. — I do not feed the carp. 



Growth. — The original carp weigh from i to 1^ pounds. I have seen no young 

 yet. 



Difficulties. — Poachers visit the pond. 



526. Statement of Irad TV. Gildersleeve, Matlituck, Suffolk Co., N. T., July 25, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — I put the 30 carp received in October, 1881, into 

 a ^-<acro pond, which after much rain is sometimes increased to from 2 to 3 acres. It 

 has a bottom of clay, and, as it is sujjplied only by rain-water, it occasionally dries 

 up. In September, l'^82, I removed from 6 to 8 of the carp to a poud covering from 

 20 to 30 acres, with a depth of from 15 to 20 feet. In 1882 I received another lot, and 

 placed them in a pond covering from 40 to 50 acres, au<l being very deep. 



Plants. — Timothy predominates in the small poud, which is formed in a grass lot. 



Enemies. — Nothing that disturbs thecjirp inhabits the small pond. The large ponds 

 are stocked with black bass, pickerel, perch, roach, cattish, &c. 



Food. — I do not feed the carp. 



Growth. — Two of the carp of the lot that 1 removed to the large pond weighed, 

 respectively, 2 and 2f pounds. The others were very much smaller. The original 

 carp were rapid growers. 



Difficulties. — In September, 1882, the small poud dried up, and all the carp ex- 

 cept the ones removed to the large jiond perished. 



527. Statement of John C. Wells, Mattituck, Suffolk Co., N. Y.,July 28, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — The 18 carp received in May, 1881, I put in a 

 pond covering about 2 acres, with a depth varv ing from 1 to 6 feet. It is fed by springs 

 Ironi an U[)per pond, and has an outlet into Peconic Bay. It is protected by a valve 

 in the dam, so constructed as to allow the passage of the discharge water from the 

 pond, but closes when the tide rises, thereby preventing the entrance of salt water. 



Enemies. — Eels got into the pond from Peconic Bay. 



Difficulties. — As the carp have not been seen since they were put iu the pond, I 

 am inclined to think that the eels devoured them. 



Miscellaneous. — If I can get another supply of carp I will place them in a smaller 

 iuclosure, which is free from all fish, till they are large enough to be put in the larger 

 I)ond. 



528. Statement of Samuel J. Hopkins, Miller's Place, Suffolk Co., N. ¥., Oct. 2, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received.— I received 10 carp in May, 1880. My pond covers 

 f of an acre, has a bottom of sand, mud, and bog, and water from 2 to 4 feet deep. 

 The water changes about ouce a week and stands at about 74° in summer. 



Enemies. — Frogs and eels are found in the pond. 



