1884 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



81S 



supply of water can be so adjusted as to only com- | 

 pensate for the evaporation, the pond being- kept ; 



full without any overflow whatever. This can not 



always be done whereone levees across a ravine, and 

 the entire stream must pass through the pond. It 

 is frequently desirable to drain the pond for the 

 purpose of inspecting- and taking- out fish, destroy- 

 ing turtles, etc. In our neighborhood several of 

 these pond-drainiugs have occurred, to which quite a 

 number of guests were invited, and all have ex- 

 pressed themselves as very favorably impressed 

 with this new industi-y. In order to facilitate drain- 

 ing the pond, the bottom should be made to slope 

 toward one or more channels, which should have an 

 outlet through the levee by means of a pipe. The 

 fish being driven to the channel, can be much more 

 readily e.xamined than they could if no such ar- 

 rangement were provided. The pipe for draining 

 the pond should have a screen placed on the inner 

 end to prevent the escape of the fish. It can be 

 stopped by driving a close-fitting plug into the in- 

 ner end. This plug can be driven out when the 

 pond is full, by means of a pole from the outer end 

 of the pipe. The screen will have to be arranged so 

 that this plug will not interfere with it. Fur this 

 outlet, an old pump-pipe will answer quite well if 

 your pond is not large. For a very large quantity 

 of water, a lai-ger pipe will be found better, as, with 

 a small pipe, too much time would be consumed in 

 draining the pond. The size of my pond is about 

 30 X 130 ft., and the water was almost an entii-e day 

 in running out through a 4-inch pump-pipe. A pipe 

 should also be provided for the outlet of the sur- i 

 plus water; and where quite a large amount of sur- 

 face water is liable to flow into the pond, a shoot of 

 about six inches in depth and four to ten feet in 

 width— depending upon the volume of water likely 

 to pass over it. Where the pond is free from sur- 

 face water the latter will not likely be needed, if a 

 pretty good sized pipe be used for the surplus wa- 

 ter, which should in no case be too close to the top 

 of the levee— about 12 to 18 in. being the distance 

 for it. The shoot may be provided with a wire 

 screen on the side next to the water, to prevont the 

 escape of fish, though it is said that during a dis- 

 turbance of the water they remain at the bottom. 



A pond with an uneven shoreline will accommo- 

 date more fish than a squai-e one with straight 

 shores of the same size, as it furnishes more feed- 

 ing-ground. Hence, bajs, capes, isthmuses, and 

 islands, where they can be ma'de, not only add to 

 the beauty of a carp-pond, but add to its value. 



Deep water must be provided for the fish to occvi- 

 py during- winter, but the pond should not be uni- 

 formly deep. A small portion of it 4' i to 5 ft. deep, 

 with the remainder much more shallow, and a por- 

 tion quite sliallow, is in accordance with authorities 

 on the subject. Too much deep water is said to re- 

 tard hatching, for the reason that the temperature 

 would be kept too low. 



Hesides its primary object of " carp-pond," it may 

 have sevei-al other uses. Thoseof us who live in the 

 north have an " ice-pond " as well as carp-pond. The 

 advantage of having ice at your door, as it were, 

 should not be overlooked. In these days of cheap 

 lumber almost any one can have an ice-house. In- 

 deed, one could be made of rails and straw. Besides 

 the above uses, the carp pond in many localities will 

 be found of advantage as affording an abundance of 

 stock water, for it will be observed tliat stock pre- 

 fer to drink out of a pond or pool, 



There is yet another possible advantage, though I 

 have never seen the idea advanced. We are all 

 aware that large bodies of water so equalize the 

 temperature as to insure a good crop of peaches 

 and other fruits when these fruits would surely 

 winter-kill if it were not for the water. Now, might 

 not these small bodies of water exercise the same 

 influence, to a less degree, of course, and thus at 

 some critical time give us a crop of some of the 

 more tender fruits that we would not otherwise ob- 

 tain? 



The value of a fish-pond to a farmer, I should not 

 attempt to estimate; but an enthusiastic carp cul- 

 turist told me that my farm was worth $1000 more 

 by reason of there being a good location for a fish- 

 pond on it than it would otherwise be. 



The carp-pond will add to the beauty of almost 

 any place, and will afford boating and skating for 

 those who enjoy such sports. 



At another time I may give you some informa- 

 tion on the " bee interest " in this section. 



Mooresville, Ind., Nov. 2V, 1884. John E. Eves. 



Friend E., we are very much obliged in- 

 deed for your excellent yrticle, and sliall be 

 glad to liear from you further. Below we 

 give an extract from the Ohio Farmer of 

 Nov. 29, which will doubtless greatly inter- 

 est our Ohio readers, if not those in other 

 States. 



GERM.\N CARP. 



Wo have received a letter from Henry Douglas, 

 superintendent of the fish hatchery at Sandusky, O., 

 stating- that 20 German carp will be furnished to 

 each individual who owns a pond in this State, and 

 applies for the fish. The party receiving the fish 

 must pay express chart^es and cost of telegraph 

 message on delivery. Order from Mr. Douglas, as 

 aliove. and give the iiearest express office you want 

 them shipped to. The following hints are furnished 

 by the Ohio Fish Commission, on their printed let- 

 ter head: 



When fish are received, deposit them as soon as 

 possible. Great pains should betaken in building: 

 carp-ponds, to ha\ e them deep enough in the cen- 

 ter to prevent them freoznix- to the bottom in the 

 coldest winter. The ciii-p is ii hil)ernating fish, and 

 requires a soft muck or iiiudily liottom, asit burrows 

 in the mud in the deeper portions through the win- 

 ter. Have the overflow of your pond so arrang-ed 

 with a wire screen as to prevent fish being- carried 

 out in flood time. The carp is partial to stagnant 

 water, hence thrives best in ponds, it is well to cut 

 holes in the ice in winter to give the fish air. To be 

 successful in carp raising-, no Dthcrfish should be in 

 the pond, as they devour the spawn and young carp. 

 Carp spawn in May and .lune, according to the tem- 

 perature of the water; and at this time they require 

 a good deal of food t(j prevent them from eating- 

 their own spawn, which they will surely do if not 

 properly fed during the spawning season. Keep 

 turtles, water-snakes, frogs, and muskrats out of 

 the pond; all are very destructive of the spawn and 

 voung ttsh. The carp is a domestic fish, eats cooked 

 food of almost all kinds, vegetables, the refuse of 

 the table, etc. It is a hearty eater, and in spawning 

 time should t)e fed at least three times daily. Dur- 

 ing the rest of spring, summer, and fall, twice a day. 

 The carp t.'^rows with wonderful rapidity, if well 

 cared for the tirst year attaining a weight of three 

 pounds, and at the end of tliird year eight pounds. 

 It is also remarkably prolific, spawning, according 

 to climate and care, at one, two, and three years, a 

 five-year-old female depositing sometimes a half- 

 million eggs. 



I have \u)t learned whether other States 

 have similar airangements for sending carp 

 free of charge to those having ponds, but I 

 prcsmne tiiat Ohio is not, of course, an ex- 

 cepti(m in this respect. Neighbor H. and 

 myself sent for 20 carp each as soon as the 

 notice came to hand, and it will be the 

 means of getting the carp well started all 



