[165] 



CARP-CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. 823 



Growth.— There are from 18 to 20 of the original carp lemainiDg. I caught one last 

 summer that weighed fully 3 pounds. They do not seem to have increased much in 

 weight since. 



Rkpeoduction.— There are from 50 to 100 young of last year's spawning, but I cannot 

 estimate the number of this year's. The yearlings weigh frem 14 to 16 ounces. This 

 year's fry were 2 inches long in June. 



Difficulties.— Several of the carp were destroyed by turtles the first year. In the 

 spring of 1881 I found one with 2 inches of its tail eaten offi It is diflicult to keep my 

 pond from leaking. 



750. Statement of B. F. Woodward, KashviUc, DavkUon Co., Tenn., July 22, 1883. 



Disposition of cakp received.— I placed the 6 carp received in December, 1881, in 

 an open cistern in a green-house. The cistern is G by 34 I'eet, is 5 feet deep, and has a 

 loose gravelly bottom. It is kept full by rain-water, which has a temperature of 70° to- 

 day, aud never less than 45°. The pond contains no plants. 



Enemies. — One bull-frog inhabits the cistern. 



Food. — I feed the cai-p on bread and worms from potted plants. I occasionally throw 

 leaves of various plants in the cistern. 



Geov\'TH. — I have never weighed them, but suppose the 6 carp remaining will weigh 

 from 10 to 12 pounds each, and average more than 1 foot in length. 



Miscellaneous. — I intend to move the carp to a pond next year. 



751. Statement of Marcus J. Wright, Nashville, Datndsmi Co., Tenn., Aug. 14, 1884. 



Growth. — A carp weighing 5 pounds was recently taken from one of the pools at 

 the State capitol, when the pools were being cleaned. 



752. Statement of John F. Gunirel, Colesburg, Dickson Co., Tenn., July 26, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — The 5 pairs of carp received in December, 1880, I 

 placed in a newly constructed pond, but, unfortunately, the first hard rain broke the 

 dam and allowed all of them to escape. Since then I have rebuilt my dam and in- 

 creased the number of the ponds. The upper pond covers 3 of an acre, and has with- 

 stood the heavy rains for the last 2 years. The middle one covers about ^ of an acre, 

 and the lower about 4} acres. The upper and lower pond have each one spring, but the 

 greatest amount of water is supplied by 500 acres of land which serve as a watershed. 

 My observation during the last 2 years has con\inced me that the ponds retain a sufficient 

 amount of water during the entii-e year. The maximum depth of the ponds is 9 feet, 

 and gets shallower nearer the shore. The bottoms of the ponds are composed of heavy 

 yellow and red clay mixed with iron ore. 



Plants. — Plants indigenous here gi'ow in the pond. 



Food. — The di'ainage from the large watershed is suflScient to .sustain quite a number 

 of carp. 



753. Statement of S. J. Alexander, Maeon, Fayette Co., Tenn., July 3, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — The scale carp received in January, 1881, and the 

 leather carp in November, 1881, were placed in a new pond 15 months ago. I have 

 another pond, from A foot to 8 feet deep, whith contains lilies but no nio.ss. In it I 

 have black aud blue catfish, buffalo, suckers, trout, and 5 kinds of perch. I expect to 

 make another pond lor earp this summer, and place the three ponds and grass lot under 

 a wire fence, with shade trees. 



Food. — Both old and young carp come to the surface of the water for bread. 



Growth. — Mr. J. A. Clay Reed caught with a seine, Noveml")er 1, 1882, a carp that 

 was 20} inches long. Mr. John F. Porter, Galloway, Term., transferred his leather carp 

 in October, 1882, to his new pond, when one of the fish was 16v inches long. 



Reproduction. — Last summer (1882) I saw only 4 young ones. But I now have quite 

 a quantity of young carp from 1 to 6 inches long. Last Saturday I crushed tour .soda 

 crackers and threw the same on the surface of the water for them. For 15 minutes the 

 young carp could be seen taking the food and lining the water for a space of from 5 to 20 

 feet. 



754. Statement of William E. Fariss, Macon, Fayette Co., Tenn., Sept. 6, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — The IS scale carp received on January 7, 1881, and 

 the lot of leather or king carp received subsequently I put in a pond which is 450 feet 

 in circumference and 75 feet front. It has an average depth of 6 feet, and a bottom 

 composed of mud and gravel. Cold water from a 1-acre watershed feeds the pond. 



