<S38 REPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [1 80] 



815. Stntemrnt of S. A. Cook, Dcnison, Groijfton Co., Tex., July 27, 1883. 



Disposition of caep eeceived. — I received 12 carp, 3 or 4 years ago, and have kept 

 them in a pond 20 by 600 feet, G feet deep, with a muddy bottom. It is supplied -with 

 the rain-water drawn from about 40 acres. 



Pi^ANTS. — It contains Bermuda grass and weeds. 



Enemies. — It contains cattish and perch. I fear the other fish have destroyed my 

 carp ; tlie catfish weigh about 5 pounds now. 



81G. Statement of J. V. Cockrell, Sherman, Grayson Co., Tex., Oct. 21, 1882. 



Geowth. — We have just weighed some of the carp received February 12, 1882, and 

 find them ranging from 2 pounds to 4 pounds and 7 ounces. Mr. James H. Dunn weighed 

 one October 12, 1882, which turned the scales at 4 pounds and 7 ounces, the largest one 

 yet weighed, though several have weighed 4 pounds. This seems almost incredible, but 

 these weights are verified by our best citizens. I frequently visit the pond of Mr. Wal- 

 lace, near this place, who received 21 carp in November, 1880. The fish feed in very 

 shallow water, hence I was able to estimate their true weight. The smallest carp weighs 

 2 and the largest 4 pounds. An offer of $10 apiece has been made for 2 or 3 of these fish, 

 but refused. It is expected that they will spawn this spring. 



MISCELT^ANEOUS. — All these fish, or quite a number of them, will spawn next spring, 

 which will insure an abundance of fry for next year. Nearly all of our small streams 

 go dry in July and August, which has made it necessary for almost every farmer to make 

 a pond of water lor his stock, and it is in these small ponds, covering from i acre to 

 10 acres, that these fish grow so well and seem to be so much at home. The high 

 temperature of our waters during the siimmer months seems peculiarly adapted to their 

 growth and development. They will add much to the food supply of Texas. 



817. Statement of M. S. Klum, Sherman, Grayson Co., Tex., July 31, 1883. 



Disposition of carp eeceived. — Five of the carp sent me in Maj^, 1881, reached 

 me alive, and I received some more in February, 1882. My pond covers about an acre, 

 and is from 1 inch to o feet deep. It is fed entirely by surface water, but occasionally 

 I let in some from another pond to make up for evaporation. It is exposed to the sun, 

 and gets very warm. 



Plants. — I put some ])lants in the water about a mouth ago, and they disappeared 

 in a few days. 



Enemies. — The pond containja few sun-perch and catfish. Bull- frogs, turtles, &c. 

 are plenty. There is occasionally a bass. The ducks have been the worst enemy that 

 I have known; but no doubt the turtles, frogs, cranes, &c. destroy many fish. 



Food. — I have given them no food, but they have done well on what they could find. 



Gkowtii. — When I drained my pond in February, 1882, I found 3 of the original 

 lot,which were about IG to 18 inches in lengtli. They had grown 15 inches in about 10 

 months. My fish have grown faster than any fish I have ever seen. Home of my neigh- 

 bors have carp that have not grown like mine, their springs and wells being impreg- 

 nated with minerals to such an extent that catfish and perch will only live one or two 

 day in the w-ater. 



Repeoduction. — I watched continually during the summer of 1882 for young carp, 

 but I could find only young perch. But in January, 1883, I drained the pond again 

 and I fouud the 3 old ones and 1,500 young carp. They were from 4 to 9 inches long. 

 I have never seen one as small as those I first received, which were only 1] inches long. 

 I refilled the pond and turned them loose again. I have not seen a single young carp 

 this summer, though I find plenty of young perch near the edge of the water. When 

 I drained my pond in the winter I threw out all the native fish. 



Sales. — I have sold a few at 10 cents apiece and given some to my friends. I have 

 never eaten any, preferring to give or sell them to those who want carp. 



I 

 818. Statement of ]\[rs. 31. A. Wallace, Sherman, Grayson Co., Tex., Sept. 3, 1883. 



Disposition of caep received. — I received 21 carp in December, 1880. The pond 

 in which I put them covers ^r an acre, is about 4 feet deep, and has a clayey and sandy 

 bottom. The water is at a temperature of 91 degrees to-day. 



Enemies. — There are no plants nor other fish than carp in it. There are some frogs 

 and turtles, of which I have killed 3. 



Food. — I feed them every day with corn-bread, and sometimes with corn and lettuce. 



Geowth. — I still have 15 of the original lot, and think they would weigh from 8 to 10 

 pounds each. They are about 30 inches long. 



