[159] 



CARP-CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. 817 



Repeoduction.— Some of the State Fish Commission's fish spawned as early as April 

 12, 1883, and there are young in the pond that are from 10 to 12 inches long. The youn" 

 fish hatched early last May are now 5 or 6 inches long. ' " 



Catching carp with a hook.— I use a beardless hook for two reasons. It can be 

 taken from the mouth of a fish with greater ease and does less injury. I often catch 

 carp for visitors to examine, and then return them to their nalive element. They may 

 also be removed to other ponds in good condition. For catching small fry I use no cork- 

 for large fish Ipreler one, with lead enough on the line to sink the hook 'a few inches in 

 the water, but they will take it at any depth. Late in the afternoon or early iu the 

 morning is the best time in warm weather. When the sun is shining brightly, and its 

 rays strike deep down into the waters, the carp retires I'rom his leeding-grounds and re- 

 mains at rest until the shade of the evening lures him from his quiet retreat. On warm 

 cloudy days, when trained to artificial leeding, the carp may be caught at any hour, but 

 less readily about noon. It is a waste of time to angle for them in cold weather. It is 

 well known that the carp declines all food in freezing weather, and that the appetite va- 

 ries with the temperature of the water to a certain degree. In my ponds, near Leesville, 

 I can catch either kind of carp as above stated from April to December. I train thern 

 to come to the surface of the water for food .so as to enjoy the pleasure of seeing them 

 scramble for it. The cheapest of light bread, made of middlings or shorts, expressly 

 for the fish, is what I use. The same answers for baiting the hook, but a piece of 

 wafiie, cut the right size for the fish you desire to catch, is better, being tougher and 

 not so easily taken from the hook by the fish. I first collect the fish together bythrow- 

 ing iu a handful of small bits of bread — say one-half inch square — then I drop in my hook, 

 attached to a strong line at the end of a suitable cane, and in less than a minute I am 

 almost sure to bring a carp to gi"ass. More time is generally consumed in putting the 

 bait on the hook and taking the fish off" of it than in luriug him to take the bait. 



Construction of a carp pond. — The man who builds a dam across a small stream 

 and lets all the water, often increased by floods of rain, flow in and through the pond 

 and over an ordinary waste- weir, is greatly deceived if he thinks he has a pond at all 

 adapted to hatching or even raising carp successfully. My pond is supplied with water 

 from a pond at its head, in which I do not propose to rear fish of any kind. The upper 

 IDond has an outlet through a ditch of sufficient capacity to let all the sui-plus water pass 

 along the side of the lower or carp pond. The rain water from the hillside is cut off" by 

 a ditch running near the margin of the pond, and all the water that enters it is con- 

 ducted below the dam. This ditch, together with a little canal on the other side of the 

 pond, and a plank fence from one to the other at the dam form a complete bar to turtles 

 and other depredators that would like to enter such rich pastures. I was very particu- 

 lar to construct the inlet as well as the outlet, so that a fish cau neither enter nor escape, 

 deeming it, however, of more importance that all other fish should be kept out than that 

 a few carp should escape; for if the depredators bekeiit out the jDond will be soon over- 

 stocked with young carp. 



720. Statement of A. Y. W. Glywpli, Glymphville, Kewberry Co., S. C, July 30, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — I received 16 carp about 1878. My pond is 25 feet 

 deep; has sandy and rocky bottom. It is subject to overflow by Brand River. This 

 has occurred twice since I put the carp in. 



Plants. — It contains a plant which is called here bonnet. 



Enemies. — There are trout, suckers, catfish, bream, white and black goggle-eye, and 

 minnows. 



Food. — I have given them none. 



Growth. — I have not caught any carp yet, but I see some very large ones. 



721. Statement of J. iV. Rutherford, JVaUialla, Oconee Co., S. C, 1883. 



Enemies. — I am annoyed a great deal with muskrats, which make the carp very shy, 

 though 1 do not think they eat the carp. 



Food. — I feed my carp on bread, corn, potatoes, cabbage, lettuce, fruit, blackberries, 

 and grapes, all of which thej' eat very greedily. 



Miscellaneous. — I am well pleased with my prospects in carp culture. I cannot 

 find but 9 fish of the 20 wliich I deposited iu-my pond in December, 1831. 



722. Statement of James A. Pcierkin, Fort Notte, Orangelurg Co., S. C, Aug. 9, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — I received 16 carp in December, 18£ ^ and put them 

 in a pond covering 2 acres with water averaging from 2 to 15 feet in depth. It is sup- 

 plied by a small stream which flows continuously. 

 H. Mis. 68 52 



