786 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [128] 



Miscellaneous. — Next spring Mr. Leverett Tarbell, whom I have associated with 

 me, and I will construct a 1-acre pond and from 1 to 2 small spawning and hatching ponds. 

 As I think wild celery {vaiUsneria spiralii^) a suitable plant for the carp to feed and de- 

 posit their eggs on, we will stock the pond with it, and also with wild rice. It will not 

 be many years before carp culture will be a common occupation here. We have an 

 abundance of water especially adapted to them. 



578. Statement of Henri/ W. Elliott, Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, Nov. 1, 1883. 



Enemies. — My neighbor on drawing off his pond and finding only one large carp in- 

 stead of the hundreds he should have had, and discovering 7 or 8 muskrat holes in the 

 banks, concluded that rauskrats were the cause of the destruction and disappearance of 

 the fish. I have since learned that carp ponds in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Illinois 

 have been robbed and the fish destroyed by muskrats. The attention of fish-culturists 

 should be quickly drawn to this danger, and the prompt destruction of the muskrats 

 may save much loss in the propagation of carp and goldfish. His nocturnal habit in 

 feeding renders trapping the only practicable method by which to get rid of this pest. 

 The hog-like character of carp in plowing up the bottom and banks of the pond, thereby 

 keeping the water muddy and rendering themselves invisible, enables the entrance to 

 the muskrat's burrrow to be concealed until the water is drawn off. The fry and older 

 carp stupidly poke themselves into these burrows, thus making themselves an easy prey. 

 When ice forms, and the carp settle numb and torpid to the bottom, then, in my opin- 

 ion, the ravages of the muskrat are most to be feared by the fish-culturists ; but before 

 that time he should get rid of these pests.* 



579. Statement of J. J. Stranahan, Chagrin Falls, Cuyalioha Co., Ohio, Oct. 31, 1883. 



Disposition of c.a.rp received. — The 15 carp received on November 5, 1880, T gave 

 to Mr. W. E. Walters, who lives Ij miles from this place. He has a very fine pond, and 

 agrees to iurnishfree for stocking purposes all who may desire young. He also received 

 a lot in 1881. 



Growth and reproditction. — We had only got about 150 carp out of our pond when, 

 owing to the caving in of the outlet, the work of netting had to be stopped. Those we dis- 

 tributed were very fine, 4 or 5 inches long and, say, !;> to 2 inches wide; and we think 

 they were all this year's hatch, as we caught no small ones, although our net had a very 

 small mesh. Some of the old fish — the oldest are not over 3 years old — weighed 5 pounds 

 apiece. 



Miscellaneous. — Dozens of farmers are constructing ponds for the young that they 

 will receive from Mr. Walters. We expect to have a fine display of carp at our county 

 fair this lall. ' 



Edible qualities. — Mr. Walters caught a scale and mirror carp, and pronounced 

 their edible qualities to be superior to whitefish. 



580. Statement of B. Eaney, Franklin Square, Columbiana Co., Ohio, Sept. 5, 1882. 



Growth and reproduction. — I procured a supply of carp last fall and this spring. 

 They now weigh from 2] to 3.,- pounds. They spawned in June, July, and some in Au- 

 gust. I think I have about 50,000 young, the most of which are from 3 to 5J inches 

 long. The fish obtained last November, 1881, were from 2 to 3 inches long. 



581. Statement of G. W. Armstrong, New Lisbon, Columbiana Co., Ohio, Aug. 4, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — The 15 carp received in the fall of 1880, and the 

 20 received in 1882, 1 put in an ^-acre pond, having a maximum depth of 7 feet, and a 

 muddy and mucky bottom. A continual 1 inch stream of moderately cool water feeds 

 the pond. In summer the water gets very warm. 



Plants and enemies. — Water-lilies and other w^ater plants grow in the pond in 

 great numbers. A few turtles have gotten into the pond. 



Growth. — Each of the 20 original carp remaining weigh about 5 pounds. They have 

 not spawned yet. 



582. Statement of Charles Gamble, Salem, Columbiana Co., Ohio, July 27, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — In November, 1880, I received 14 carp, which, 

 however, were soon destroyed by the freezing of the water in which I placed them. 

 The second lot. received in the fall of 1882, I kept, during the winter, in a 4-gallon stone 



*For fuller account and mode of capture see U. S. F. C. Bull., 188-4, p. 296. 



