870 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [212] 



reservoir is 50 by 80 feet, from 2 to I? feet deep, and has a clayey bottom, and contains 

 from 50,000 to 60,000 gallons of water, part of which is replaced by spring water from 

 the mountains 2 or 3 times a week. The temperature of the water is 58°. 



Plants. — Blue-grass, clover, &c., grow in the water along the margin of the pond. 



Enemies. — Sun-i)erch and common Irogs inhabit the pond. 



Food. — I feed the carp perhaps once a day. I give them stale bread, and sometimes 

 lettuce. 



Reproduction. — In the fall of 1881 over 500 small carp were seined out of the pond. 

 Possibly 100 more remained. Of these, which are now nearly 2 years old, some would 

 weigh a pound each. One 4-year old I estimate to weigh 3 pounds. 



975. Statement of V. S. ]V?iHc, Bomncu, Hampshire Co., W. Va., Jul)/ 27, 1883. 



Disposition of caep eeceived.— In November, 1879, I received 20 carp. During 

 the first year the carj) were kept in 3 small ponds, each 30 by 50 ieet, having muddy Iwt- 

 toms. The.se ponds having been broken by a Hood in 1880, I moved what did not es- 

 cape to a iwnd .1 acre in extent, having a muddy bottom, and through which there is a 

 constant flow of from 3 to 12 inches of water. The water is deep in the center and gets 

 shallower as it approaches the sides. The temperature of the springs is 5G° F. In sum- 

 mer the water is cool iu the center of the pond and Avarm two-thirds of the surface. I 

 have another pond 30 by 60 feet, iu a clayey field. In summer it is at times not more 

 than a foot deep, and for weeks not a drop of water flows into it. In winter it is about 5 

 feet deep. In this latter pond I put 50 young carp in the lall of 1881. 



Plants. — The ponds contain 5 varieties of water-grasses, yellow-dock, white pond- 

 lilies, and cresses. A few white lilies and grasses grow in the smaller pond. 



Enemies. — Last June I cleaned out my larger pond and destroyed about 10,000 cat- 

 fish, perch, and chub. 



Food. — I give the carp in the larger pond no foot! except a few bread-crumbs in order 

 to toll them into sight. From June till November 1 occasionally give the young carp 

 in the smaller pond bread, refuse of the table, lettuce, cabbage, clover, and fruit. 



Growth. — I have 6 of the original carp, one of which weighed 10 pounds the 1st of 

 last June. They weighed considerably over a pound, October 29, 1880. 



Reproduction. — The carp .spawned twice in 1881. In 1882 the spawn was destroyed 

 l>y other fish. As yet I have seen no indication of the carp in the smaller pond spawn- 

 ing. I supi)ose the young of 1881 will weigh 3 pounds. 



Distribution^ of young. — I placed 50 young in the smaller pond, and have distrib- 

 uted about 500. 



Difficulties. — It has been difficult to prevent the young and the spawn from Ijeing 

 destroyed bj' other fish. Minks, coons, and wild animals, especially muskrats, have 

 been of much annoyance. 



976. Statement of E. W. Smith, jr., WeMon, Levns Co., IF. Va., Oct. 23, 1884. 



Growth. — On seining my pond I find but 2 of the 21 carp planted in November, 

 1882. One of these measures 20 inches in length and 5 in breadth. I have 3 large jxtnds 

 supplied with water suflioient for thousands of carp. 



977. Staiemcnt of Garrett Cunningham, 3Ioorefield, ITardy Co., W. Va., Jul i/ 25, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — In the winter of 1879-'80 I received 6 carp, and 

 10 or 15 more in the winter of 1881-'82. I put the carp in a succession of ponds, fed 

 and connected by a small stream of warm water. The depths of the ponds vary fi om 2 

 to 10 feet. 



Plants. — Yellow water-lilies or docks and many kinds of wild swamp-gra.ss grow in 

 the pond. . 



Enemies. — Mud-turtles, skillpots, and all kinds of frogs infest the ponds. 



Difficulties. — Black ba.ss appeared in the .stream soon after I placed the carp there 

 and ate them. I intend making another pond. 



978. Statement of William Sadler, Keu- Salem, Harrison Co., W. Vn., JuJij 26, 18^83. 



Disposition of carp received.— On December 14, 1880, I received 44 carp. I put 

 25 in a pond 12 by 100 feet, and 19 in a smaller pond. The depth of the larger pond is 3 

 feet. Tlie bottom of the ponds are composed of mud. The amount of water that flows 

 through them in the dry season Ls small. Last winter I distributed the original carp iu 

 4 ponds, as follows: 12 carp in the first pond, 11 in the second pond, 8 in the third pond, 

 and 7 in the fourth pond. I have 7 ponds, and will open 2 more this fall. 



