SOME ESSENTIALS IN POND CULTURE 



By Felix A. Lauman^ 



PALESTINE, TEXAS. 



Success in pond culture depends upon having a well 

 defined system of procedure, together with surroundings 

 approaching natural conditions as closely as possible. A 

 station site should consist of from 20 to 30 acres of ground, 

 so located as to allow the construction of ponds with suffic- 

 ient fall to permit drawing off and also to dispose of all 

 waste water. In addition there should be a flow which will 

 fill the ponds and keep a constant current through their en- 

 tire length. This prime factor is often overlooked. Too 

 often hatcheries have to resort to pumping plants and other 

 devices in order to keep the ponds filled, since the supply is 

 only standing water without any current or overflow, the 

 ponds thus really becoming tanks. Tank culture would be a 

 more appropriate name for this kind of fish culture. An 

 abundance of pure fresh water is as essential to the life and 

 growth of the fish as pure fresh air is to the life and growth 

 of man or plant. 



There should be an investigation into the history of the 

 lands, particularly as to past overflows. No greater calamity 

 can befall a hatchery than an overflow, with the loss of brood 

 stock and young fish, destruction or damage to ponds, build- 

 ings, and other property, thus ruining the prospect of success 

 for years. 



There should be a careful study of the chemical composi- 

 tion of soil and water. There is danger here not only of 

 poisonous substances, but of others not conducive .to success. 

 With a hard clay soil and pure fresh spring water nearly all 

 aquatic plants flourish, and these plants facilitate the pro- 

 duction and growth of insects, so essential as f(^od for the 

 fish. 



