471 



While specially adapted for warm climates (they do not grow in weight 

 materially in water of less than 48° F.) on account of their ability to stand 

 ■warmer water than most fish, their culture is nevertheless prosecuted successfully 

 in climates (Sweden for example) not very different from our own. 



Special shallow ponds are arranfijed for the fry in which vegetable food is 

 supplied for them by previously sowing clover ; the larger fish, however, are fed 

 on mixed animal and vegetable food, for example, chopped straw mixed with dried 

 blood, etc. The winter pond is made seven feet deep, and in this no food requires to 

 be provided as the fish neither feed nor grow there. They are in season from 

 October till May, and they are always placed for a week before sale in a pond 

 traversed by a current of running water to remove the muddy taste which all 

 such bottom- feeding fish have when taken from the water. As they bring high 

 prices in Europe, 16 to 20 cents a lb., their culture is attended with consider- 

 able profit ; but the usual verdict of English speaking people on the subject of 

 the Carp is that it is a tasteless fish, only fit to be a vehicle for sauces. 



Various other foreign fish have been successfully introduced into North 

 America, e.g. the European Brook Trout ( r Brown Trout, a fish which in some 

 respects deserves more attention for culture purposes than our own Brook Trout, 

 and again the California Mountain or Rainbow Trout (Salmo iridews), an exceed- 

 ingly handsome species, is successfully hatched and introduced in the east. 



One of the native fishes most adapted for pond culture is the Catfish (p. 442) 

 which is not only prolific, but looks well after its young, all of which are 

 hatched ; it grows comparatively rapidly, is an omnivorous feeder, and fetches 

 (where properly appreciated) high prices. One experimenter writes from the 

 States that the culture of Catfish pays better than farming land and that peaty 

 soil is very well fitted for it which would be unsuitable for agricultural purposes. 



The merits of the Catfish as a pond fish have been recognized in California, 

 where it has been introduced, also in various parts of Europe where societies 

 interested have experimented with it. 



