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CARP-CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. 861 



930. Statement of W. P. BobinsonrDanviJle,- Pittsylvania Co., Va., Nov. 25, 1884. 



Disposition of carp eeceived.— The 15 carp and 6 gold-fish -which were sent by ex- 

 press reached me safely November 15, 1884, though there were only about 2 inches of 

 water in the bucket which contained them. I also received 25 carp November 27, 1881. 

 I have kept these fish in 2 ponds, one of which covers 2 acres and the other 1 acre. 



Plants. — In my 2 ponds there are to be found lilies of all kinds, various kinds of 

 grasses, wild rice, wild oats, calamus root, and water-cress. 



Food. — I have been feeding my old fish all the summer on refuse from the kitchen, 

 cabbage leaves, boiled hominy, and all kinds of vegetable refuse, cooked. I find the 

 boiled hominy to be the best food for carp, it being of a suitable size for them to swallow. 

 I generally feed the carp in that part of the pond where the water is from 1 to 3 feet 

 deep. 



Growth and reproduction. — My carp grow 1] pounds a year. I have kept the 

 leather carp in the 2-acre pond and the scale carp in the 1-acre pond. The 6 leather 

 carp remaining spawned this year. I have about 1,000 young leather carp from 5 to 6 

 inches long and as broad as my two large fingers. 



Hibernation. — The young have not gone into winter quarters yet, for every day 

 they are to be seen swimming and jumping in the shallowest parts of the pond, where 

 the water is from 1 to 3 or 4 feet deep. 



931. Statement of E. K. Dabnei/, Powhatan C. H., Powhatan Co., Va., Aug. 20, 1883. 



Disposition of cabp received. — I put the 30 carp that I received more than 2 years 

 ago in :^-acre pond, having a soft, muddy bottom, with an average depth of 3 feet. The 

 pond is supplied with water from a small spring near by. 



Plants. — The plants that are indigenous here grow in the pond. 



Enemies. — A great many frogs and a few terrapins infest the i)ond. It contains no 

 other fish. I give no food to the carp. 



Growth, and reproduction. — About a year ago a carp 10 inches long was caught. 

 There are probably many young in the pcmd. 



Difficulties. — Owing to my having sold nij place soon after receiving the carp, they 

 suffered for food. 



932. Statement of John Houston, FarmviUe, Prince Edward Co., Va., July 26, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received.- — I received 15 carp in November, 1880, 25 in No- 

 vember, 1881, and 20 in 1882. The .J -acre pond, which is supplied with from 500 to 

 1,000 gallons of water per hour from 19 mineral sjirings and a free-stone spring, has a 

 depth of from 8 to 10 feet, and a soft muddy bottom. 



Plants. — The common flag is the predominant plant that grows in the pond. Wire- 

 grass does w^ell on the dam. 



Enemies. — A few sun-perch and minnows inhabit the j^ond. 



Food. — Almost every day in warm weather I give the carp corn-bread, loaf-bread, and 

 crackers, and sometimes corn. Thej^ come in full sight to be fed, aud people bring bread 

 and feed them in order to get a good look at them. 



Growth. — Yesterday 4 of the carp measured, respectively, 8, 12, 13, and 18 inches 

 in length. The one 18 inches in length weighed 5 pounds. Nothing in this line could 

 be more beautiful. 



Reproduction. — The young are from 4 to 8 inches long. 



Difficulties. — Of the first lot a few died aud others escaped when the dam broke. 

 Something destroys the eggs. [It is the suu-perch and minnows which feed on the 

 eggs. — Editor.] 



933. Statement of B. D. Miller, Farmvillc, Prince Edward Co., Va., July 27, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — The 16 carp that I received in November, 1880, I 

 put in a pond an acre in extent with a depth of 7 feet. Its bottom is muddy. Two hun- 

 dred gallons per day is the flow of water, the temperature of which is 72'' 



Plants. — Cresses, flags, and lilies grow in the pond. 



Food. — Once in 24 hours I give the carj) blood, bread, milk, &c. 



Growth. — I have 16 of the original carp, each of which weighs from 4 to 6 pounds. 



Reproduction. — There are about 10,000 or 12,000 young in the pond. They weigh 

 from ] to 1^^ pounds. My pond contains carp only. 



Sales. — I have sold 64 young at 25 cents a piece. 



