[169] 



CARP-CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. 827 



Plants. — A large supply of water-grasses grow in the pond. 



Enemies. — I kill all the frogs 1 eau, and dip out all their eggs which I see. I have 

 taken out of the pond all other fish except carp. 



Food. — I give the carp bread, cuiblxige, cooked potatoes, and refuse I'roin the table 

 daily, about sunset. 



Growth. — One of the 11 original carp remaining weighed 5 pounds in March. The 

 largest will now weigh from to (il pounds. 



Reproduction. — This is the first year that the carp have spawned. The pond seems 

 to be alive with young, which are from 2i to 3 months old and measure from 4 to 5 

 inches in length. 



Difficulties. — The pond has suffered for want of water. I lost 5 c^rp l)y placing 

 them in a barrel when draining my pond. 



Miscellaneous. — I propose constructing a 5-acre pond this summer, and I will sup- 

 ply it with carp from the pond in which they are now kept. Carp are fine fish and every 

 farmer should raise them for his table. 



770. Statement of S. M. Clayton, Cyruston, Lincoln Co., Tenn., July '^0, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — I put the 6 carp received on November 1, 1880, in 

 a i-acre pond with a depth of from 6 inches to 4 feet, and a muddy bottom. It has been 

 increased to an acre. The supply of water depends upon the seiisons. At this date the 

 water does not run out of the pond. My ponds number 4, and were made last fall. 



Plants. — Grasses grow on the edges of the pond. I need some better plants in it. 



Enemies. — Branch minnows, frogs, turtles, and occasionally snakes are .'^eenin it. 



Food. — Once a day I give them refuse from the garden and kitchen, coarse ground 

 corn and wheat, and green corn. They are also fond of biscuit. 



Growth. — Without giving the original carp any artificial food the}' weighed 4 pounds 

 each, and were 18 inches long in 10 months after being placed in my pond. There are 

 only 4 of the old carp remaining. Last fall each of them weighed 10 pounds, and will 

 now weigh 12^ pounds. 



Reproduction. — When hatched the fry are very small, and were it not for the head 

 and eyes it would be difficult to see them. My carp commenced spawning in the .spring 

 of 1882, when 2 years old, but not being properly fixed, I only managed to keep about 

 2,000 of the fry. They now weigh 3 pounds, and are yearlings. There are many 6-inch 

 young in the pond. The carp have .spawned but once this year. 



Sales. — I sold $115 worth of young, and have 600 left. 



Miscellaneous. — I have my spawners in a pond to themselves, as the other fish 

 would devour their eggs. The eggs are adhesive and cling to anything they touch. All 

 that fall to the ground are lost. In a warm place the eggs, which can be moved from 

 one place to another, will hatch in from 6 to 12 days. I put brush and broom sedge in 

 to catch the eggs. They seem to prefer the latter. 



771. Statement of John Y. Keith, Jackson, Madison Co., Tenn., July 21, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — The 20 pairs of carp received in November, 1879, 

 and the 20 pairs received in 1881, I put in a 2-acre oblong-shaped pond, having a depth 

 of from 2 to 6 feet, and a bottom composed of white and pipe clay. It is supplied only 

 with water from the surrounding watersheds, and it has a temperature of 70° in summer. 



Plants.— Water-lily, water-cress, calamus, yon-a-pin, water-mint, and flags grow in 

 the pond. 



Enemies.— Striped bass, black perch, red perch, yellow cat, and a few turtles and bull- 

 frogs inhabit the pond. 



Food. — I give the carp wheat and rye screenings, baked corn bread, vegetables, and 

 .sometimes shelled corn once a week. 



Growth. — There are 7 pairs remaining of the carp first received, and 18 pairs received 

 in 1881. There are 3 sizes of the old carp: the largest are from 7 to 9 pounds; the next 

 largest from 3 to 4.^ pounds, and the next from A to 2 pounds each. 



Reproduction.— There are a great many young of all sizes in the pond. 



Disposition of young.— I have given young carp to my neighbors who have small 

 ponds. 



How to catch carp. — My carp bite at the hook. 



Difficulties.— Poachers visit the pond and turtles also destroy the carp. 



772. Statement of E. A. Lindsey, Jackson, 3Tadison Co., Tenn., Aucf. 6, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received.— The 18 carp received in 1880 and the 8 received 

 in 1881 I placed, in a newly-constructed pond, 80 by 100 feet, with a clay bottom, iue 



