878 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [220] 



Geowth and eepeoduction. — I drew off the water a few days ago and found my 

 fish to be from 12 to 16 inches long. There are a number of young, which I estimate at 

 1,400. There are 3 sizes of young. 



1017. Statement of John Brooks, P)-hweton, Worcester Co., 3Iass., Nov. 9, 1884. 



Geowth. — I find that 12 of the carp received last season have attained a length of 

 frcKn 10 to 12 inches, and that they are as large as the Ixesh mackerel that are peddled 

 from carts in this city. 



1018. Statement of Charles Dudley, Jackson, Hinds Co., Miss., Dec. 18, 1881. 



Disposition of caep eeceived. — There were 12 carp placed in a pond at the lunatic 

 asylum in December, 1880. The bottom of the pond is composed of black mud for a 

 depth of about 3 feet. The water is very muddy. 



Enemies. — A barrel of dead catfish and sun-i)erch have been taken out of the popd. 



Geowth. — One of the inmates of the a.sylum saw the carp in the pond and killed 

 them. They were 19^ inches long, and weighed 3 pounds. 



1019. Statement of Lucins L. Bridges, SedaJin, Pettis Co., Mo., Apr. 19, 1881. 



Disposition of c^aep eeceived. — As all the ponds in this vicinity were frozen over 

 when I received my consignment of 20 young carp, I deemed it advisable to keep the 

 fish until spring before planting them. To this end I constructed a tank or vat of yel- 

 low pine, 4 feet in length by 2 in height and depth. I covered the bottom with loam to 

 a depth of 3 inches, and then filled it with water from Flat Creek. I caused the vat to 

 be steamed for three days, so as to thoroughly remove all the sap from the lumber, and 

 I then placed it in the basement of a building. 



When received the carp were from \ to .5 inches long. Fearing that the wintering of 

 the carp in the manner described might prove a foilure, I caused the 8 carp remaining to 

 be placed in a couple of ponds in this county, 4 in one and 4 in another. Holes were 

 cut in the ice, and the little fry were set lulrift beneath their frosty covering. I learn 

 from the proprietors of the ponds that they are alive this spring. Yesterday, 1 planted 

 in a park contiguous to this city the 12 carp which I wintered in the vat. The pond is 

 a new one, covering about 3 acres in extent, and varying from 3 to 10 feet in depth. It 

 is supplied with water from Flat Creek, by means of the city water-works, and is not 

 liable to go dry nor overflow. 



Food. — Before planting the carp I scattered a peck of corn-meal and cracked wheat 

 over the water at the place of deposit. It, of course, sank to the bottom, and as the pond 

 is motionless, it is presumed that it will remain there for a long time, as a bed to which 

 they can resort for sustenance. I gave directions that food be supplied at regular inter- 

 vals, and always at the same place, so as to accustom them to a regular feeding place. 



1020. Statement of S. S. Hutchinson, Milford, Hillsborough Co., N. H., Nov. 24, 188L 



Geowth. — As I had not been able to discover but 2 or 3 of the 20 carp that were re- 

 ceived November, 1880, I thought a snapping-turtle, which I discovered in the pond last 

 spring, had destroyed the remainder. I have, however, lately seen 11 of the original 

 carp, which appeared to be fully 10 inches long. These fish have received no food other 

 than the natural resources of the pond. 



1021. Statement of Rev. John H. Brakeley, Bordentovm, Burlington Co.,N. J., Dec. 4, 1884. 



Geowth. — I drew the water from my ponds last October to ascertain the condition of 

 the adult carp that were received in 1881, as well as their increase. I found that the 

 adult carp, which averaged 4| pounds last year, had grown but little during the past 

 year, having gained on au average only 10 ounces. The 15 young fish, however, now 2 

 summers old, had attained an average weight of 2| pounds; the largest weighed 3 

 pounds. Some adult carp which I had in a 2.]-acre pond attained an average weight of 

 6b pounds from 41 pounds the year before. The largest of these weighed 7? pounds. 



Repeoduction. — In addition to the 12 adult carp, I Ibund in the |-acre pond 2,145 

 young carp from 3 to 6 inches in length. My adult carp commenced spawning May 13. 

 There were 480 young taken from the large pond, some of them being 9 inches long. 

 "When the adult carp commenced spawning May 13 they made a great commotion in the 

 water by their rapid motion through it near the surface. The spawning continued at 

 intervals until July 18. As early as July 18, I discovered a few young fish feeding in 

 the margin of the pond, and on the 28th I captured 2, in a fyke, then 2 inches long. 



