864 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [206] 



Plants and enemies.— The pond contains moss, but no grass. Nothing injurious in- 

 habits the pond except miiskrats. I have found several dead carp. 



Food. — I give the carp corn-meal in sacks. 



Growth.— All of the carp except 4 jumped out of the pond. Those remaining are 

 large, and are now in a mill-dam. 



945. Statement of Samuel Shrum, Dayton, Bockingham Co. , Va. , Aug. 6, 1883. 



Disposition of cakp keceived. — In 1880 I received 16 carp, and 20 more last Octo- 

 ber. I put the first lot into a pond near a mill-dam. I think the muskrats let them 

 into the dam. The second lot I put into a pond of standing water belonging to a neigh- 

 bor. I have not fed the carp. 



Growth. — I think some of the original carp are still in the mill-dam. In June after 

 the November when I received the carp, I caught one that was 12 inches long and 4 inches 

 wide. About a year later I caught a carp that was 18 inches in length and 6 inches in 

 breadth; it weighed 3 i^ounds. A neighbor who received 3 carp from the Harrisonburg 

 distribution in 1880 has one that measures 2 feet in length and 17 inches in diameter. 



Reproduction. — Yesterdaj^, in passing a pond in which carp were put in 1880 I was 

 told that there were young carp also in it. 



946. Statement of John C. Wenger, Dayton, Boclingham Co., Va., Aug. 20, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received.— I received 16 carp on December 6, 1881, and placed 

 them in my pond, which is 25 by 50, feet with a depth varying from 1 to 3 feet and a 

 bottom composed of a tough soapy soil. 



Plants and enemies. — Weeds grow in the pond. Frogs and snakes infest it, but 

 no turtles have appeared .since I shot one. 



FoqjD. — The carp consume less in cold than in warm weather. In warm weather we 

 give them bread once a day. 



Growth. — In 1881 there were in the pond 12 of the original carp. They now meas- 

 ure from 15 to 20 inches in length. 



Reproduction. — There are young of this and lasL year's spawning in the pond, and 

 they are from 3 to 4 inches long. 



Miscellaneoi's. — I was very nuich discouraged and feared that my carp would not 

 increase, as I never saw any young in the jiond. Lately, however, on sultry evenings I 

 have seen last year's and this year's young swimming on the surface with their noses 

 out of the water. 



947. Statement of John TF. Borrcrs, Oreenmount, Rockingham Co., Va., Aug, 7, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — The 16 carp which I received in December, 1880, 1 

 placed in a pond 40 by 60 feet, having a claj'cy bottom, with a depth of from 2 to 4 feet. 

 It is plentifully supplied with rain water, the temperature of which in summer is moder- 

 ately warm ; in winter, cold. 



Plants and enemies. — Very few plants grow in the pond. Bull-frogs and turtles 

 infest it. There are no other lish in it. 



Food. — Three or four times a week I give the carp bread, corn-bread, cabbage, &c. 



Difficulties. — In May, 1881, my carp were apparently doing finely, but during the 

 summer following they mysteriously disappeared. 



948. Statement of Peter Bonds, Harrisonhurg, BockinghamCo., Va., Aug. 4, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — About 2 years ago I received 16 carp, and subse- 

 quently a lot from Mr. Deckert, which I put in 2 ponds, respectively, 50 by 50 and 40 

 by 50 feet, with depths of from 1 to 4 feet. Spring water is turned into them daily. 



Plants and enemies. — Rushes grow in the ponds. Muskrats destroyed all of the 

 first lot of carp except 3, and snakes ate up all my young carp before I could extermi- 

 nate them. No other fish inhabit the pond. 



Food. — I give them light bread and corn-bread. 



Growth and reproduction. — Last fall the 3 original carp weighed Al pounds each. 

 I obtained last summer 225 young from the 3 old carj). Lastjirfl the young weighed 2 

 pounds each. 



949, Statement of Henry Pulse, Harrisonhurg, Bockingham Co. , Va. , July 28, 1883. 



Disposition op cakp received. — The 24 carp received iu November, 1880, I placed 

 in a stiignant pond '20 by 75 yards, with a depth of from 2 to 3 feet and a muddy bot- 



