118 



THE GAME BREEDER 



suitable sites for the construction of 

 ponds, especially if at present unre- 

 munerative, should make their use to 

 such a purpose desirable to the thrifty 

 husbandman after a full comprehension 

 of their possibilities in a fish-cultural 

 way. 



Ponds intended primarily for the cul- 

 tivation of fish may be conveniently lo- 

 cated for the watering of stock, or the 

 overflow therefrom may be utilized for 

 the irrigation of land. In many sections 

 of the United States artificial ponds on 

 farms are an absolute necessity to serve 

 one or both these latter purposes, and 

 by a merely nominal expenditure such 

 water areas may be advantageously uti- 

 lized for the growing of fish without in- 

 terfering in any way with the original 

 uses for which they were intended. 



At the outset the main object of the 

 amateur farmer fish-culturist should be 

 the production of a food supply for 

 home consumption. There are no au- 

 thentic published records as to the finan- 

 cial returns that may be expected from 

 the pursuit of pond fish culture on a 

 commercial basis. Many theories have 

 been advanced on this point, but, as in 

 other undertakings of importance, the 

 efiiciency necessary in order to profit- 

 ably conduct such a business can only 

 be gained by repeated efforts and actual 

 experience. Furthermore, in order to 

 arrive at an estimate of any value one 

 would have to take into consideration 

 such important factors as the topo- 

 graphical features of the site, the char- 

 acter and quantity of the water supply 

 available, the extent of the enterprise, 

 and the location of the plant with refer- 

 ence to market and transportation facili- 

 ties. 



Taking all these facts into considera- 

 tion, one can readily see the futility of 

 attempting to forecast in a general 

 treatise the financial returns that may be 

 expected from any given pond area de- 

 voted to commercial fish culture. 



All this, however, detracts in no way 

 from the argument favoring the con- 

 struction of ponds with the view to pro- 

 viding a food supply for private use. 

 The feasibility of pond fish culture on 



this basis has been fully demonstrated,, 

 and ample quantities of fish for home 

 use are today being propagated in es- 

 tablished ponds on farms, proving the 

 value of such an undertaking for that 

 purpose alone. 



After gaining the required (experi- 

 ence and knowledge of the subject as 

 a result of conducting work for several 

 years on a limited scale, the farmer wilf 

 be well qualified to judge as to the prac- 

 ticability of extending his operations, 

 and can then, if he so chooses, increase 

 his facilities with the view of raising 

 fish for the market. 



Frequent inquiries are received by! 

 the Bureau of Fisheries regarding the 

 use of natural ponds, lakes and streams, 

 for the raising of fish. With respect to- 

 such water areas it may be stated that if 

 drainage is provided for, the pond bed 

 cleared of debris, the site protected 

 against the inflow of surface water — 

 if, in short, complete control is effected,, 

 natural water areas will possess many- 

 advantages over artificial construction. 

 There is objection, however, to any 

 body of water not under complete con- 

 trol. 



(To be continued.) 



Mallard Nests in Trees. 

 Editor Game Breeder; 



Three of my mallard ducks nested in. 

 willow trees this year — one in a crotch 

 four or five feet from the ground, one 

 about fifteen feet, in a hole, and the 

 last in a hole in the trunk of a tree about 

 twenty feet from the ground. Some day- 

 I will measure up the height of the holes- 

 and give you the story for the magazine. 



G. F. McKlNNEY. 

 [We are inclined to believe that foxes or 

 other ground vermin have driven the ducks- 

 in the trees. Tree-nesting mallards are cer- 

 tainly a novelty. We would suggest that you- 

 endeavor to trap the foxes or whatever ver- 

 min is about and see if the ducks will again 

 becomes terrestrial nesters. The Oneida Com- 

 munity will be much interested in this tale- 

 and Mr. Newhouse. of that company, will be 

 glad to advise what traps to use if you find' 

 that erround vermin is sending the ducks aloft. 

 —Editor.] 



More Game and Fewer Game Laws^ 



