The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-06-13
Fish Farming.

The authorities assert that where IA
cilities are available, as they are in q
majority of cases, more annual food can
be taken from an acre of water, or its
equivalent, than from twice this area of
land no matter hsw well it is titled
If there is a trout stream running
through the farm, in which are still left
even small number of the speckled
beauties, nothing more may be needed
than to stop the fishing for two or three
years, but if the waters are entirely bar
ren, of course fresh supplies from out
side sources must be introduced. The
development of the ova, their care and
cleansing, their Matching and feeding,
their treatment in the nursery and in
ponds until they are large enough to
be let loose, is q somewhat complicated
process requiring apparatus, and above
all patience. Most people prefer to
leave this art to the professional breeders
and pay them for their pains by pur-
chasing their stock.
1t is always best to deal generously
with brook when putting in the seed.
| Give the waters q fair start even if it
costs a good round sum. One hundred
dollars will buy, at present prices, from
10000 to 10000 fry or 200 yearling
trout. The multiplication is rapid and
sure, but for the first three or four years
the boys in that neiglhborhood should
be discouraged from pursuit of the noble
art of angling.
VIM. Cliff, some Of whose statements
we borrow, says in the Phren05Ogicai
Joundl, that the black bass is one OF
the best fish for private enterprise tc
handle. 1t will thrive III ponds that
can be made and controlled on almost
any farm where there is flowing water
and in quality it is good enough tC
satisfy even an epicurc, ranking second
only to tho salmon and trout, and by
many considered even superior to them
In size the black bass attains on average
weight OF four or five pounds, and one
was lately taken which weighed seven
and half pounds. DR.. w. NJ. Hudson
one of the Connecticut Commissioners
says OF him:
=" He is exceedingly hardy, and adapt
ed to our waters, being native of the
Northern lakes. Any pond of clear
water having variety of mud and
gravel bottom, and one or more deep
holes is suitable for him. He is great
breeder, and is one of the very few fishes
that perfect their spawning beds and
young fry. He is the only fish suitable
for our waters able to defend himself
against the ravenous pickerel or pike
Nearly all our ponds are infested with
this pirate among fishes. He is able tc
conquer all his enemies. Finally, he is
as game as the salmon, and in compari-
son with his size furnishes as much sport
to the angler He readily takes live
minnow or a fly, and when he feels the
first prick of the hook frequently rises
three feet out of the water in his strug-
giles to free himself, and it requires a
quick eye and steady nerve to land him
safely"
The cost Of these fish for stocking pur-
poses, is from 81 to So each according
to size and number taken, the expense
of transportation being added. With
AN attendant they can be- safely sent
four or five days journey by rail.
All the efforts at stocking ponds with
the black bass have been successful, SC
far as our information extends. Tuns
are taken every year from ponds of q
few hundred acres, furnishing very
appreciable amount of food to the peo.
pie in the vicinity. A pond of 4(
acres, stocked two years ago at an ex.
pense of $500, is now valued at $4,000
by its proprietors, and will probably
pay the interest on that sum. One O
the excellencies of the black bass is, tina
he absolutely requires no care after h,
is put in his new home among tn,
coarser kinds of fish. He caters for him
self, living upon varieties that are o
little value for human food. You hav
nothing to do but to catch him when b
is full grown. Apond should be KEEP
closed for four or five years after it i
stocked, and then it will bear the strait
of fishing with the hook, probably a
long as water runs.
Fish also can be raised in ponds tina
havono outlet, or in those that are sup
piled by running water only part of tn
year, if they do not,get so low as to de
stroy the fish by the excessive heat i
the summer. Eels and mud pout ar
frequently found in these stagnan
pools, but carp would be better fish
and furnish q large amount of food. L
the abundant distribution of water i
our Northern States there are few owner
Of large farms that cannot command
valuable fish pond. On many the pom
is already made. On others, nothing
wanting but dam, which will be non
the less valuable for fish because it fun
nishes water power for mill.
To those who have facilities such 9
the above, we would recommend at leas
a trial of fish culture on a small scale.