[3] POND-CULTIVATION ON THE KANIOW ESTATE, 535 
official reports, 103 kilograms of fish, each fish weighing on an average 
1.594 kilograms. These fish even at that time enjoyed the reputation 
of being the finest carp in the whole neighborhood, and were nearly 
all shipped on the Vistula to Cracow and Warsaw. After a pond had 
been under water for 4 years, it was entirely drained, and served agri- 
cultural purposes for 5 or 6 years. 
When in August, 1873, I took Kaniéw and Mirowec on a lease of 
twelve years, the ponds contained a fine well formed species of carp, 
and pond cultivation had been carried on systematically though per- 
haps not as vigorously as it might have been. I immediately took 
steps to extend the pond cultivation, by allowing one year to pass, and 
then, in 1875, planting or renting out for the same purpose one-half, 
and fishing in the other half after the first summer. From that time on 
one pond was plowed and planted every autumn, whilst at the same 
time one pond was freshly watered. This system I have maintained 
ever since, in spite of the difficulty experienced in the beginning, of 
obtaining the very large quantity of young fish required, because it 
offers imany and great advantages. At present the greater half of all> 
my ponds are under water, and I confine myself to plowing and plant- 
ing one pond, either main pond or pond for young fry, a year, with 
the view of providing a sufficient quantity of fodder of the very best 
quality for my valuable herd of cattle. All the ponds are of course at 
present managed by myself, and none are rented out. 
It is well known that the carp grows most rapidly during the first 
year of its life, and slower as it grows older. If the main ponds are, 
therefore, drained of their fish annually the most favorable result will 
be obtained. By avoiding one wintering the risk is greatly decreased 
and the stock of fish is under more frequent and better control. This 
system, moreover, offers the advantage that one has a certain regular 
annual income, which will vary but little; and thereby that point is 
reached which, owing to the slowness of all agricultural processes, is 
after all mainly to be aimed at, viz, to decrease the working capital 
and to obtain a rapid sale for the products of the farm. 
I did not rest satisfied with this change, but aimed at a further im- 
provement of our breed of carp by selecting the breeders very carefully, 
having special regard to their build and to rapid growth (if this can be 
considered a peculiarity of any breed of fish). Herein I was guided by 
the view that a fish possessing a well-shaped body is apt to develop 
a larger quantity of flesh, thus obtaining not onlya greater total weight, 
but also a more even proportion between the valuable and valueless 
portions of the body, which of course increases the worth of the fish. I 
therefore principally look for a comparatively small head, a well-arched 
full back, and a broad and well-rounded body. In other words, a good 
carp of pure breed is to be among the fish what shorthorns are among 
cattle, particularly as, in all probability, the carp will, for a long time 
to come, remain the principal fish bred and raised in our ponds. 
