[205] 



CAKP-CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. 863 



Geowth. — Last October each of the 16 original carp measured 20 inches in length 

 and 9 inches in circumference. 



Eepeoduction. — The pond is fall of young. 



Disposition of young. — I gave to each of 5 neighbors 5 carp. 



940. Statement of Peter Bader, Broadway, Rockingham Co., Va., Oct. 8, 1883. 



Disposition of caep eeceived. — I received 12 carp in November, 1880, and 25 in 

 November, 1881. The first lot I placed in a pond about 120 feet in diameter, 2 feet in 

 depth, and of muddy bottom. It is fed by a spring which yields about 180 gallons each 

 24 hours. It is cold at the spring, but becomes measurably warm in the pond, and 

 flows out through a subterraneous passage. 



Enemies. — There are no other fish in it. Frogs and skill-pots abound. I have killed 

 one muskrat in the pond. 



Food. — I do not generally feed them, but have given them crumbs and wheat-bread 

 a few times when the water was very shallow. 



Geowth. — I probably have 2 of the first lot and 10 or 12 of the second lot left. 

 Last winter a carp which was caught weighed 5^ pounds and measured 22 inches. 



Eepeoduction. — As the pond has never been drained, I cannot tell how many 

 young there are, but have handled 70 or 75, which were 6 inches in length, and have ob- 

 served many smaller ones in the pond. 



Edible qualities. — I have eaten 3. The first was cooked vdth the skin on, being 

 parboiled and fried. The others were skinned before cooking, which seemed to be an 

 improvement. I regard the fish as delicious. 



Difficulties. — The most serious difficulty has been the failure of water during the 

 long drouth of the past summer. 



941. Statement of D. M. Rodeffer, Broadway, Rockingham Co., Va., July 30, 1883. 



• 



Disposition of caep eeceived. — I received 16 carp in the fall of 1880, and 20 more 

 in November, 1881. The carp are kept in an artificial pond 30 by 40 feet, from 1 to 4 feet 

 deep, and has a clayey bottom. A 2-inch stream from a spring 60 yards from the pond 

 supplies it with water. I put fine willow brush in the pond for them to spawn on. 



Plants and enemies. — On the edges of the pond grow broad swamp and spear 

 grasses, which hang into the water. Frogs infest the pond. 



Food. — I give the carp wheat-bread daily. 



Geowth. — I have 5 of the original carp, each of which appears to be about 15 inches 

 in length. 



Difficulties. — The water broke over the banks of the pond and carried off some of 

 the carp. I have now erected a wire screen over the top of it. A few carp have died. 



942. Statement of Geo. W. HoRar, Dayton, Rockingham Co., Va., July 27, 1883. 



Disposition op caep eeceived. — In a pond 20 by 50 feet, with a clayey bottom, I put 

 the 20 carp which I received in November, 1881, and the lot received in the winter of 

 1883. An inch stream of spring water flows through the pond. 



Plants. — Grass grows on the banks, but not in the pond. It is inhabited by nothing 

 that disturbs the carp. 



Food. — I give the carp light bread and refuse from the table. 



Geowth. — The 10 original carp now remaining will weigh from 8 to 9 pounds each. 

 Since last spring 5 have died. 



943. Statement of B. F. Michad, Dayton, Rockingham Co., Va., Aug. 3, 1883. 



Disposition of caep eeceived. — I received 16 carp November 26, 1880, and sub- 

 sequently 2 small lots. My pond has an area of 75 square feet, with a depth of 3 

 feet. The bottom is muddy. At the head of the pond is cold spring water, which, 

 however, does not always flow through it. 



Plants and enemies. — Grass grows in a portion of the pond. It is infested by a 

 few frogs. 



Food. — I give the carp bread irregularly. 



Geowth. — I have 9 or 10 of the original carp, which weigh from 8 to 10 pounds each. 



944. Statement of Wm. J. Miller, Dayton, Rockingham Co., Va., July 24, 1883. 



Disposition of caep eeceived. — In November, 1881, 1 received 49 carp. My pond 

 is 14 by 40 feet, 3 feet deep and has a muddy bottom. The water passes through a 7- 

 inch-square wire screen, and is not very cold. 



