84() REPOKT OF COMMISSIONEK OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [188] 



them iu the pool. It is UO yards wide, 100 yards loug, from 2 to 4 feet deep, of sandy 

 margin, and muddy bottom. It is a natural basin iu the prairie supplied with rain 

 water. 



Plants. — The margin of the pond has a grass the blade of which resembles prairie- 

 grass, but the roots are matted and close-jointed. The fish love to plow among these 

 roots. 



Enemies. — Snakes are the worst ' enemy ; terrapin also infest the pool, but I do not 

 think they do any harm. The long-legged blue and white crane also visit the pool. 



Food.— I have given them no food to speak of. 



Growth. — There are 6 of the original lot left that will weigh about 4 pounds each. 

 Two that were caught weighed, respectively, 21 and 4 pounds. 



Reproduction. — I do not know how many young there, are, but the pool seems to be 

 full of them. They are 6 to 8 inches loug. This spring's carp vary from 3 to' 4 inches 

 in length. I have disposed of 10 ol' the young which were from (J to 8 inches long, to 

 be put into another pool, and have promised more. They will oversto(;k my pool in 

 a very few years. I think I shall be able to supply all demands in my county for carp. 



Miscellaneous. — -There is no difficulty with them at all. They are close imitators 

 of our buifalo-fish. About sundown, the time they feed, I have seen the carp go out on 

 the edge, almost completely leaving the water. 



852. Statement of C. E. Breedlove, Breiiham, WusliiiKjion Co., Tec, July 30, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — I received 16 carp in December, 1881. My rain- 

 water pond or "tank," as the Texans call it, is from 30 to 50 feet wide and from 00 to 

 100 feet long. It is from 2 to 5 feet deep and a large volume of water flows through it 

 during and after heavy rains. 



Enemies. — There are craw-fish only. 



Food. — 1 give them Indian corn, corn-bread, and biscuits. 



Growth. — I have seen some of them, while feeding them, nearly or quite 24 inches 

 long. I do not know how many there are, but suppose they are all there. 



Reproduction. — I am not sure that they have yet spawned. 



Miscellaneous. — I was oft'ered $5 apiece for them but would not take .$10. 



853. Statenuni of T. W. Morriss, Brenham, Washington Co., Te.c., May 11, 1882. 



Disposition of carp received. — I received my carp in 1880. My 4 ponds are 

 separated by dams, and have an aggregate length of about 400 yards and a width of from 

 50 to 00 feet, with depths of from 3 to 10 feet and muddy bottoms. I constructed a 

 small basin in my yard this spring, in which I placed 5 carp. My object in this arrange- 

 ment was to hatch the carp iu the pool and remove the young to the larger ponds when 

 they were large enough to care for themselves. 



Growth.— The largest of the carp are about 2 feet long. 



Reproduction. — I discovered in the small basin on May 10 a large number of young, 

 which are now about 2 inches long. 



854. Statement of William Elliott, Taylor, Williamson Co., Te.x., July 21, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — I received 15 carp December 17, 1880, and some 

 subsequently through the Texas Fish Commissioner. I have 2 ponds, one 40 by 600 feet 

 and one 100 feet square. Both are fed by springs. There is about 31 inches of continual 

 overflow. The temi^erature is 56 degrees. 



Plants. — They contain water-lilies and Johnson grixss, or wliat is known as Texas-Colo- 

 rado bottom-grass. 



Food. — I have given them corn-bread, baked bread, and boiled oats. 



Growth and reproduction. — The old ones weigh from 15 to 20 pounds each, the 

 young being of various weights. I have given away se^'eral lots to other iiarties. 



Edihle qualities. — They are veiy fine when cooked. 



UTAH. 



855. Statement of James Toombs, Tyncr, Box Elder Co., Utah, Aug. 28, 1883. 



Growth. — About 6 months ago I received 18 small carp. I placed them in a spring, 

 and, noticing that some of them had died, removed them to another more suitable spring. 

 A few days ago I examined them, and was greatly surprised at their remarkable growth. 



