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CARP-CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. 851 



ing a muddy bottom. The inlet, 30 feet long by from 3 to 6 feet wide, is separated 

 iTOJja the pond by a screen, which during the freshet last spring was carried away, and 

 the carp escaped into the pond. An inch stream of water, mild in temperature, flows 

 through the pond. 



Plants. — There are no water-plants in the pond. Common grasses grow on the banks. 



Enejiies. — Goldfish, catfish, frogs, a few eels, and innumerable minnows inhabit the 

 pond. 



Food. — I have given the carp no food. 



Gkowth. — The original carp are about 8 inches long. The pond appears to be well 

 stocked with fish. 



873. Statement of Nicholas W. de Krafft, Jetersville, Amelia Co., Va., July 2o, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — The 16 carp I received on November 11 , 1880, 1 put 

 in a pond 5 miles distant, having a bottom of soft mud-washings, covering 4 acres, with 

 a depth of from 6 inches to 9 feet. The pond is fed by small streams which supply water 

 enough to run a mill. The temperature of the water in summer is about ()0°. 



Plants and enebiies. — Cut lemon, wild oats, and cat-tail grow in the pond. Lilies 

 and grasses grow in the shallow parts. Pierch, cat, terrapins, frogs, and a few chubs in- 

 habit it. 



Food. — The carp get mill-sweeping and refuse. 



Growth and reproduction. — A carp 11 months old weighed 5| pounds. The young 

 seem to be abundant, and in the heat of the day can be seen in shallow water. 



Difficulties. — I caught a carp 11 months old and placed it in a prepared feed-pond, 

 which gave way during a freshet and the carp escaped. The pond is too remote for 

 much care, but I am building another behind my house. 



874. Statement of G. W. Mitchell, Allen's Creek, Amherst Co., Va.,Nov. 7, 1883. 



Growth. — The carp you sent us last year are doing well. We caught one from our 

 mill-pond, which weighed 6 pounds. 



875. Statement of W. 31. Evans, Amherst C. H., Amherst Co., Va., Dec. 24, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — I received 13 carp about 3 years ago. My pond 

 measures about 40 square rods. It is an ice-pond. Three small springs near the pond 

 supply it with water. 



Plants. — The pond contains various kinds of wild gra.ss and weeds. 



Enemies. — Small frogs, small turtles, and eels are sometimes seen in the pond. We 

 suppose muskrats debtroj'ed many carp. I did not feed my carp. 



Growth. — We drew the water off this fall and we found a carp weighing 7 pounds, 

 and 8 weighing from 2 to 7 poiuids. We left about 60 carp weiglung from 1 to 4 pounds. 



Production. — We do not know how many young fish there were in the pond, as we 

 did not make a close examination when we drew off the water. 



Edible qualities. — We have eaten the carp fried and boiled. They are like codfish 

 in taste. 



876. Statement of H. B. Jones, Fisher.<iville, Augusta Co., Va., Aug. 10, 1883. 



Disposition of carp recefved. — The 16 carp which I received on November 20, 

 1881, I put in a pond that is supplied with spring water. In a few days they all dis- 

 appeared. 



877. Statement of James R. Kemper, Fishersville, Augusta Co., Va., July 27, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — I put the 30 carp I received in a pond immediately 

 below a large spring of limestone water and I)y the side of a branch, whicli, overflowing 

 2 months later, destroyed the banks of my pond to such an extent that all of the fish 

 escaped. I do not think there were more than t a dozen alive. Carp are a success 

 here when properly handled. I will try again with a better location. 



87H. Statement of James Bumgardncr, .sr., Greenville, Augusta Co., Va., Aug. 29, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — Into an acre pond, ha\ing a rocky and muddy bot- 

 U)m, I put the 19 carp received in February, 1881. j i. n <• 



Plants and enemies.— A coarse grass grows in the pond. Goldfish and boU-trogs 

 inhabited it. 



