[197J 



CARP-CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. 855 



Growth.— A year ago a carp that had been in my pond 18 months weighed 3 pounds. 

 , Difficulties. — The branch supplying the pond dried up lastsummer, and I was com- 

 pelled to haul water to keep the carp alive. 



894. Statement of C. E. Jones, Wilmington, Fluvanna Co., Va., May 13, 1884. 



Disposition of caep eeceived.— In the autumn of 1881 I received 20 carp, and 20 

 more in the autximn of 1882. They were put in a pond covering about \ of an acre, and 

 nothing was seen of them until a few days since, when I drained my pond to ascertain 

 what had become of them. 



Growth. — Out of the 40 put in there wei-e 9 left, which weighed from 2J to 3J pounds 

 each, but there were no signs of any young. 



895. Statement of A. M. Kline, Middletown, Fredei-ick Co., Va., Nov. 6, 1883. 



Repeoductiox. — lu August IvLsited Mr. Thatcher's pond and saw scores of large carp 

 and tens of thousands of small ones, from 1 to 3 inches long. 



896. Statement of J. W. Schultz, Stepfi£nson''s Depot, Frederick Co., Va., Aug. 11, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — On November 13, 1880, 1 received 20 carp and 20 

 more on the 19th of November, 1882. The size of my pond during the winter is 40 by 

 140 feet and from 2 to 6 feet deep, with a clayey, marly bottom. There is a 2-inch 

 flow of water through the pond, the temperature of which is G5°. The brook which 

 supplies the pond with water is sufficiently large to drive a mill most of the year. 



Plants and enemies. — Moss, cat-tail, and common gra.sscs grow in the pond. It is 

 inhabited by minnows, frogs, and skillpots. Muskrats damage the pond by boring 

 through its banks. 



Food. — Since last month I have occasionally given the carp light bread and green 

 corn. 



Growth. — I have 4 of the original carp, each of which measures about 22 inches in 

 length and weighs 65 pounds. 



Reproduction. — There are not less than 400 young of last year's hatching which now 

 measure from 1 to 12 inches in length. 



How TO catch carp. — In September, 1881, I caught a carp with a hook and line, 

 which measured 11 inches in length and weighed a pound. 



Difficulties. — In the fall of 1880 I had my pond cleaned out, and as the carp could 

 not get shelter in the mud most of them perished. 



897. Statement of H. Stephenson, Stephenson^ s Depot, Frederick Co., Va., Aug. 1, 1883. 



Distribution of carp received. — In November, 1881, I received 22 carp and 22 

 more in November, 1882. My if-acre pond is 4 feet deep and gets shallower as it ap- 

 proaches the spring which supplies it with water. The bottom is of mud. 



Plants. — Weeds, gi-ass, and a quantity of moss grow in the pond. 



Enemies. — The pond is inhabited by many frogs and snappers and a lew water-snakes, 

 but no other fish than carp. I am shooting these pesfs and hope soon to be rid of them. 



Food. — Believing there is a sufficient quantity of animal and vegetable matter in the 

 pond, I seldom feed them. 



Growth.— I have been able to see only 4 of the original carp, each of which weighed 

 2 pounds. I suppose they would weigh double that now. I cannot tell how many 

 young are in the pond. 



898. Statement of A. 31. Maclin, Hicksford, Greenville Co., Va., Aug. 7, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received.— In November, 1880, I received 12 carp, which I 

 placed in my pond, covering about 3 acres, with a depth of 2 to 3 feet. It has a black, 

 muckv, loamy bottom, and is supplied by .several small springs about h mile distjuit. 

 Since I erected the dam only once, and then during a very dry season, have the springs 

 ccuscd. to run. 



Plants —The pond contains a plant resembling mo.ss, which covers almost the entire 

 surface of the water in which the roots grow. Its blos-soms are yellow and always in 

 seed. Other plants, indigenous here, also grow in the pond. • i, v.-+ +>,». 



Enemies.— Native pond fish and numerous frogs, turtles, and terrapma inhabit tne 



pond. , J 



Food.— About 3 times a month I give the carp corn and com- bread. 



