The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-07-13
Fish Culture.

The authorities assert that where facilities
are available, as they are in q majority of
cases, moro food can be taken from an acre
ofwater, or its equivalent, than from twIce
this area of land, no matter how well it is
TILED.
WIN. Glib, says in the Physiological
Journal, that the black bass is one of the
best fish for private enterprise to handle.
Ii will thrive in ponds that can be made
and controlled on almost any farm where
there is flowing water, and in quality it is
good enough to satisfy even an epieure,
ranking second only to the salmon and
trout, aidby many considered even superior
TO them. la size the black bass attains an
average weight of four or five pounds, and
one was lately taken which wei ghed seven
and half pounds. Dr. W. NJ. Hudson,
one Of the Connecticut Commissioners, says
OF him:
"He is exceedingly hardy, and adapted
TO our waters, being n native of the North.
ern 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 bre eder, and is one of the
very few fishes that protect their spawning
beds and young fry. He is the only fish
suitable for our waters able to defend him.
self against the ravenous pickerel or pike.
Nearly all our ponds are infested with this
pirate among fishes. lie is able TO conquer
all his enemies. Finally, he is as game as
the salmon, and in comparison with his
SIZE furnishes us much sport 10 the angler.
lie readily takes live miunow or Fly, aud
when he feels the first prick of the hook
treqenntly rises three feet out Of the water
in his struggles to free himself, and it re.
qulres quick eye and steady nerve TO laud
him safely"
The cost of these fish for stocking pur.
poses, is from 81 to SO each acco riding to
size and number taken, the expense of
transportation being added. With an at.
tendant they can be safely sent four or five
days journey by rail.
All the efforts at stoc king po=ds with the
black bass have been successful. SO far as
our information exten DIS. Tuns are taken
every year from pond Of few hundred
acres. furnishing yer y nppreciable amount
OF food to the people in the vicinity A
pond OF 40 acres, stocked two years ago
at an expense of $500, is now valued at
$4,000 by its proprietors, and will proba.
bly, pay the interest on that sum. One of
the excellencies Of the black bass is, that he
1S1OAhhNV lDiAlltS nv SsitC utlcf u5 Is puk
in his new home among the coarser kind #
fish. He caters for himself, living upon
varieties that are of little value for human
food. You have nothing to do but catch
him when he is full grown. A pond should
be kept closed for four or five years after il
is stocked, and then it will bear the strain
of fishing with the hook, probably as long
as water runs.
Fish also can be raised in ponds tina
have no outlet, or in those that are supple ed
by running water only part of the year, II
they do not get so low as TO destroy the i sh
by the excessive heat ia the summer. Eels
aud mud pout are frequently found in these
stagnant pools, but carp would be a better
fish, and furnish large amount Of food
In the abundant distribution Of water there
are few owners of large farms that canno,
command q valuable fish pond. On many
the pond is already made. On others
nothing is wanting but dam, which viii
be mono the less valuable for fab because i
furnishes water power for mill. 70 thos,
VIII have facilities such as the above, We
wo uld recommend at least trial Of fisl
culture on small scale.