The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-02-28
Chr Bssttrn gRmntrat.
CHARLOTTE, N. c.
RAISING FISH.

The following article on nsn-ralsihS was 0o
municated to the Fayetteville Carolinian by
Chapel Hill correspondent under date of the 18th
The "Prof Taylor mentioned we suppose is Mr.
James F. Taylor, who spent some weeks In TINS
place recently after successful trip to the noun
tains in search of the "speckled trout" Mr. rs
idea that fish may supply the place of pork and
bacon is novel anyhow:
"Perhaps it may not be undressing to your
readers, to know the method now persued by varl-
Gus persons, throughout this and other countries
of arti6cially raising fish.
Twas very mach gratifed yesterday in listening
mt lecture by Prof Taylor of Raleigh on this
subject, which is likely to become of considerable
enterest as a matter of domestic economy
The speaker commenced by giving history OF
raising fish; and stated, practical attention had but
recently been turned to this branch of industry;
that some years age, three or four Monsieurs in
the North east of France turned their attention to
the culture ofsh and succeeded very satisfactorily
Within very few years, the subject has en-
gagged the attention Of few in the United States.
Prot Taylor thinks the plan is destined, at triA-
ing expense, to supply the place pork and bacon,
now so extensively consumed by the negro popua-
ton of the south He has been engaged for some
years in several of the southern States, directing
the constructing of ponds, and the stocking of
them with fish; and last fall, with gentleman
FROM Sonth Carolina, he began fhe experiment in
Rnncombe county, IN this State, which wal succeed
His method is as follows: Take small stream
and erect dams at convenient distances, so each
pond shall cover three four acres, it makes no
difference how shallow, it be twelve or fifteen
inches in. depth. The dams must be so constructed
that in time of freshet they shall not allow too
thick volume of water to pass, lest 1t would carry
the fish with it, Build your upper dam first and
stock it with the following species, in November
or December viz:-Hegastonaa CaroIenenSis, or big
mouthed Club, fifty; Ponsotis Ceraaca, OR Blue
Bream, one hundred; RoDpotis Eryttrogdsteris, or
Red Belled, one hundred; Esoc Reticulata, or
Pike, twenty, making In all two hundred and
seventy. The last named, the Pike, is called the
Doctor fish, from the fact says Prot. Taylor, that
lit has been found that lheother species, from some
cause net vet known, do not thrive in waters
where Pike are not found In the fall or winter
at the cad of the FIRST year. stock the next lower
middle pond as the first, and at the end of the
second year likewise stock the lowest pond. 1t
is best to fish very tle if any, till the third year,
at the end of which, in November, gradually draw
off the water of the upper pond, having at the
outset, however made al the fo; of the onl near
the dam, an excavation Of fifteen inches deeper
than the surface of tie surrounding pond and say
twenty by thirty feet in length and b. eadth the
water falls the fish will collect IN this reservoir.
This serves for fish for one year, which may be
.canght easily with Clip net uring the fourth
year this first pond is to be cleansed of NOS weeds
and detrital matter which may have collected in it,
at the end of which close your first dam and let
the fish 60 multiplying again. AT this same
time (end of the 4th Year, let off the water in the
Fecond or middle pond treating it in the same way
10 every respect the first, and at the end of the
9th year the lower one, and hence you the
necessity of having three ponds.
The soil above these ponds should remain as
little unbroken possible, say woodlands, orchard
or grass land.
Professor Taylor also gave what he thought was
the mode of frying fish. He says; they must be
kept alive till they to be cooked, or killed
as they caught; in other words, they should
never be suffered to die themselves
The best way to kill them, is to lay them fat
O board and with knife on the back part just
behind the eyes, cut cash to the gills, then,
without water, scale ..and draw (gut) and wipe
clean with CLOTH never allowing water to touch
it after it is killed as it extracts somewhat of its
favor roll it next in meal and salt, and put it in
lard previously made hot, fry quickly to brown;
take it up aud let it drip all the lard if any
remaining, and eat while hot.