PRACTICAL CARP CULTURE. 49 



tadpoles, frogs, terrapins, turtles, muskrats, water-rats, coons and mink. 

 The shot-gun policy will lessen the number of these, but ingenius devices 

 and traps will also be required. Rake the frog spawn out on the bank und 

 let it dry in the sun, and a boy with a light shot-gun will have great sport 

 in getting rid of the old frogs, whose chief depredation is on the eggs of 

 the fish. Though they will swallow fish so large that the tail will stick 

 out of their mouths. 



CRAWFISH. 



Dr. E. Sterling, of Cleveland, Ohio, gives the following method of 

 rapturing crawfish: Take 30 to 50 osier twigs, or split white ash sticks, 

 according to the size used, and three feet in length, form a bundle of the 

 whole and bind at each end with strong cord or wire, separate the twigs 

 or splints in the center of the bundle by means of sticks 10, 15 and 20 

 inches long and forked at each end, so that when in place the trap will be 

 spindle-like in shape, with the twigs evenly distributed about its circum- 

 ference and centre, and far enough apart to allow easy entrance for the 

 fish, but from which they will not readily escape. Bait the inside with 

 fresh meat of any kind, only see that it is fresh and bleody if possible; 

 set the same with the current in running water ; if blood can be procured, 

 pour a pint or so on the bait; it will taint the stream for a long distance. 

 I have watched crawfish in great numbers follow up the track or scent 

 thus made from 30 rods below the trap, and have known six and eight 

 quarts taken at a single lift. Should one desire a more substantial and 

 comely rig, it can be made by driving a smooth, stout stick lengthwise 

 through the center of the bundle, slide the tied ends down on the stick 

 until the whole bulges to a diameter of 20 inches or more in the centre, 

 fasten the tied ends of the twigs to the centre stick, put three hoops of 

 proper size over the whole and fasten with fine copper wire. In order to 

 make hiding places for the crawfish and so retain them in the trap, num- 

 bers of the twigs should also traverse in various directions. 



Another and simpler method of dealing with th^ crawfish is to take 

 an ordinary minow net, tie some fresh beef (the bloodier the better) inside 

 the bottom of the net, sink it in the water where the crawfish are most 

 plentiful. The scent of the bloody meat will attract them, and greedily 

 they fasten to it and will hold on until taken off. 



The Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission says of them: 

 Great quantities of these Crustacea are captured in- Louisiana for the New 

 Orleans market, where they are highly esteemed for making "gumbo," a 

 dish prepared by the Creole cooks. The method of capture is simple. A 

 piece of cord two foot long is tied at one end to the middle of a light stick 

 about a foot long. To the other end of the cord is securely tied a small 

 bit of meat, usually fat bacon. An indefinite number of these machines, 

 perhaps two dozen, may be used by one person. He tosses then out into 

 the muddy ponds or "burrow pits," near the levees. He then wades 

 gently through the pond with a pail or basket in one hand, and, visiting 

 each line in turn, slowly raises it out of the water and drops the catch 

 into the receptacle provided. 



