[2171 



CARP-CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. 875 



numbers. Judging from the number of young carp that appeal- at or about sunset, I 

 have somewhere in the neighborhood of 5,000. They measure all the way up to 3 or 4 

 inches. 



Dlfficulties. — They hibernate in November, and fearing a severe winter I put straw 

 and brush on the ice in December to protect them liom freezing. In March I was dis- 

 appointed to find that the pond was infested with minks, and several of the fish had 

 been destroyed. I immediately set out to destroy the minks and captured 3. I found 

 the partial remains of a number of carp on the ice, and in the spring took out 8 dead 

 fish. I have not seen one since, and am satisfied that they were destroyed. 



1000. Statement of Q. H. Kruschke, Neu^ Lisbon, Juneau Co., Wis., Dec. 2, 1882. 



Re3»eoduction. — The 20 carp received a year ago have spawned, and I have caught 

 a number of young carp this summer. 



1001. Statement of Mftx Gruhk, Fillmore, Washington Co., Wis., Oct. 13, 1884. 



Growth. — Having lately fished our pond, we are able to report that our carp are 

 doing well. Those planted last winter weigh from 2 to 3 pounds each, while those 

 planted 2 years ago weigh as high as 5 pounds. They have not .spawned this year. I 

 have 3 ponds, the largest of which is an acre in extent. 



1002. Statement of Fred Doering, Winneconne, Winnebago Co., Wis., Sept. 24, 1883. 



Geowth. — The carp I received November 16, 18S2, were then al>out 3 inches long. 

 This spring they were about 5 inches long, not having grown much because of the 

 severe cold weather; but they have made up for it this summer. To-day they are 12 

 inches long. 



1003. Statement of Fred. Docring, Winneconne, Winnebago Co., Wis., Oct. 25, 1884. 



Difficulties. — All but 3 of the carp received last fall were destroyed during the 

 winter by muskrats. Those remaining are alive and doing well. We have drained the 

 pond and killed the rats, and expect no further trouble from them. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 

 1004, Statement of G. B. Mobleij, Eutaw, Greene Co., Ala., Nov. 8, 1880. 



Growth and reproduction. — I received 21 carp November 14, 1879. On going 

 to my pond this evening I found a number of carp that weighed from 2i to 4 pounds. 

 These fish spawned up to about October 22, and the number of fry hatched in May 

 I estimate at 34,000. Thus it can be seen what an immense number of young must be 

 in my pond when even those hatched in May have grown up and spawned. I think I 

 have all the minnows that will be needed to stock all the ponds in this section of the 

 State. Carp are beyond doubt the most prolific fish I ever knew, and their rapid growth 

 is truly wonderful. Those hatched in May will weigh from 1 to 3 pounds. 



Disposition of young. — I have already commenced stocking the neighboring lakes 

 and ponds, and expect to finish before cold weather seta in. 



Edible qualities. — I have never seen so good a fish to eat; they are simply delicious. 

 I have had them cooked at the hotel where I board, and all who ate them said the carp 

 is superior to any of our Southern fishes. 



How TO catch carp. — I have had very fine sport fishing for them the past week. 

 Those taken with a hook were from 42 to (i inches long and weighed from J^ to f of a 

 pound each. Crickets and grasshoppers were the only bait I used, and at which they bit 

 very rapidly. 



1005. Statement of J. C. Nicholson, 31. D., Mount Meigs, Montgomery Co., Ala., Oct. 25, 1884. 



Growth. — I saw nothing of the 33 small carp planted in my i)ond in November, 1882, 

 until yesterday, when one was taken, which, by actual weight, weighed 5 pounds, and 

 was about 20 inches long. 



How TO CATCH CARP. — The Carp alluded to was taken with hook and line. 



Difficulties. — The carp that I received in 1881 were all killed by craw-fish. 



