820 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [162] 



TENNESSEE. 



735. Statement of A. CamphcU, McKenzie, Carroll Co., Tenn., July 27, 1883. 



Disposition of caep received. — The 20 carp received in the fall of 1880 I placed in 

 a pond covering 50 or more square yards, with a depth of 5 feet and a clayey bottom. It 

 is only fed by rain water. 



Plamts and enemies. — There are no plants in the pond. There are toads, but no 

 other fish than carp in it. 



Food. — I give the carp corn, wheat, and bread occasionally. 



Growth. — The 5 original carp remaining average from 12 to 15 inches in length. 



Difficulties. — A flood of water allowed all the cari) to escape except 5. On one of 

 these there is an excrescence which causes it to appear as if its back is broken. 



736. Statement of E. C. Lewis, Sycamore, Cheatham Co., Tenn., Aug. 3, 1883. 



Disposition of caep received. — The 10 pairs of carp I received in November, 1880, 

 I put in a newly-constructed pond 20 by 50 yards, with a dejjth of from 3 to 4 feet and 

 a muddy bottom. A small stream of spring water, the temj^erature of which varies with 

 the atmosphere, runs through the pond. 



Plants and enemies. — Cresses, lilies, and grasses grow in the pond. Turtles and 

 frogs inhabit it. 



Difficulties. — In the spring of 1881 I found only one carp, and that has since dis- 

 appeared. I cannot account for this, as I killed all the turtles, &c., that I could find 

 when I drained the pond. I have speculated as to whether the carp found in the spring 

 of 1881 might have been the young of the old carp. 



Miscellaneous. — I now have 3 ponds, and desire another trial at carp culture. 



737. Statement of John Burger, Celina, Clay Co., Tenn., Dec., 1883. 



Growth. — I took from my tank this week a 2-year old carp which weighed 9| pounds. 

 This is the largest carp known to haAe been taken from any tank in the country. 



738. Statement of A. J. and W. B. Bairil, Aashi^ille, Davidson Co., Tenn., July 25, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — We put the 5 pairs of carp received in November, 

 i880, in a pond 50 by 80 leet, with a depth of from 1 to 5 feet, and a rocky bottom cov- 

 ered with mud to the depth of 6 inches. About a l-j-iuch stream from 2 sjirings feeds 

 the pond. It has a temperature of 00°. 



Plants. — In May the surface of the water is covered by a green spore, which in June 

 develops in a 2-leaved plant ^ inch in diameter. It has a root an inch long, which ex- 

 tends downward. 



Enemies. — No other fish than carp inhabit the pond. Occasionally a frog and turtle 

 are seen, but an effort is made to rid the pond of them. 



Food. — The carp provide for themselves, but we give bread when we desire to see 

 them. 



Growth. — A carrj caught last September weighed 4} pounds. Thej' will now Aveigh 

 from 6 to 7 pounds. We have all of the original carp except the one aa e ate. 



Reproduction. — There are an abundance of young in the pond Avhieh are from h to 

 10 inches in length. The 10-inch carp are a year old. We have been so successful in 

 the culture of cmii that we have constructed a poud 5 times as large as the old one. They 

 are both well stocked. 



Miscellaneous. — We went to the pond this evening, and in a few minutes took a 

 bountiful supply for the table. We had company, and all pronounced the carp excellent. 

 Any complaint as to quality must certainly be founded in not knowing how to prepare 

 them for the table. 



739. Statement of Dr. J. II. Callender, Nashville, Dacidson Co., Tenn., Dec. 9, 1880. 



Food. — Every care has been taken of the carp. I have fed them regularly and have 

 not allowed any one to dJbturb them. Consequently' they are very tame and come at a 

 call for their food. 



Growth. — The carp distributed here last year are doing remarkablj^ well. Then they 

 did not exceed \h inches in length and looked very puny. The other day I caught 5 of 

 my smallest carp, each of which weighed Ih pounds, and livelier and finer looking fish 

 could not be found. They have not spawned yet. 



