1118 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [18] 



vents the carp from spawning, because tlie female carp considers it use- 

 less to deposit any spawn, which would only fall a prey to the pike, are 

 no longer believed by any one. 



As a general rule one puts with 100 three-summers' carp 5 small i)ike, 

 and, wherever they can be obtained, as many perch-pike. 



As the ponds for older fish are- well suited for wintering fish, and 

 with the view not to crowd the winter-ponds too much, they are gen- 

 erally stocked in autumn at the time when fisheries are in progress in 

 the raising-ponds. As the fish in them are only taken out to be sold 

 they may be fished whenever it suits, either in autumn or spring. 



4. Winter-ponds. 



Winter-ponds are needed for wintering one-summer's and two-sum- 

 mers' carp, whilst the ponds for old fish are generally of such a nature 

 as to afford a safe abode for fish during winter. The different raising- 

 ponds, even if they should be capable of wintering fish, should be laid 

 dry every autumn, and fheir fish placed in the winter-ponds, as on the 

 one hand it would be difficult to bestow the proper care in winter on 

 a large number of ponds, and as, on the other hand, it thus becomes 

 possible to destroy all the vermin in these ponds, and as finally it 

 becomes necessary in a well-regulated pond-farm, to ascertain in au- 

 tumn how the fish in the different ponds have flourished. Good winter- 

 ponds are therefore absolutely needed in well-regulated carp culture, as 

 in places where they do not exist one will have to confine oneself to the 

 mere keeping of carp. On large pond-farms there should be several win- 

 ter-ponds for receiving carp of different ages and fish-of-prey. The 

 winter-pond should be in a sheltered location, have always the same 

 depth of water — 2 to 4 meters — and if possible a regular supply of water. 

 Spring- water, which in winter has a higher temperature than river or 

 brook-water, is to be preferred to the latter. Lakes and ponds may 

 also be used to advantage for constantly or temporarily feeding wiuter- 

 ponds. 



The banks of the winter-ponds should have a steep slope, the bottom 

 must be firm, but neither hard nor muddy, and have a suitable depres- 

 sion (pit) in one place. In this place the carp gather, as soon as frost 

 sets in, and remain there quietly, until the water again gets warmer, 

 sleeping more or less soundly according to the varying temperature of 

 the water. Here they should be entirely undisturbed, as when they 

 become scared they will swim around wildly, and in ponds whose banks 

 are not very steep, get into shallow water, where they frequently freeze 

 to the lower side of the ice and thus perish. No persons or wagons 

 should therefore cross the ice of the winter-ponds, and skating should 

 be a strictly prohibited as well as the cutting of ice for ice-houses. 

 Every unusual agitation of the water by violent currents, which will 

 occur especially in spring, when the snow begins to melt, or during long- 



