The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-08-02
;The 8atta.
FISH CULTURE FOR FARMERS

FISH CULTURE FOR FARMERS
Although comparatively new to us,
this is an ancient art AS far back as
our knowledge of the Chinese extends,
F we find that fish culture was practiced
by them, and that impregnated fish
spawn was merchantable commodity.
This also was the case with the Japa-
nese, and, we are told, that small
colony of the latter, who settled within
year or two in California, We're aston
ished to find that aqua culture was not
an adlunet-of agriculture with US. 1t
was to some extent, known to the Ro-
mans, but was lost during the dark
ages, and we find no mention made of
it until about the middle of the four
teenth century, when Dom Pinchon, a
monk of the Abbey Of Rome, discover
ed the method of obtaining trout spawn
by manipulating the female, and ex-
pressing the milt of the male over the
eggs, Matched them Oh sand or gravel
in trough of running water. jacob,
a German without knowledge of what
had been done by Dom Pinchon, also
produced trout by the same artificial
means and appliances. 1t was left,
however, to Joseph Remy again to re-
discover this mode of producing trout,
about the year 1919, when he brought
it to the knowledge of the French gov
crnment, since which time fish culture
has gradually grown into favor with
most of the enlightened European ma
tons, as well as in Canada and the
United States. The artificial Matching
of shad spawn on the Connecticut (see
New England Fish Commissioners re-
ports) has rendered that river more
prolific of these valuable fish than it
has been for sixty-fve years. As this
treatise on fish culture, however, is
necessarily devoted to what may be
done by individual enterprise in breed
ing trout, and by concerted action in
introducing other valuable species into
ponds, lakes, creeks and rivers, l shall
pass over what may have been done by
State fish commissioners to restore our
rivers to their former fecundity in mi
gratory fishes.
Many of our farmers have brooks of
more or less volume flowing through
their lands which may be utilized in
making ponds for such fishes as live
naturally in water of ordinary brook
or creek temperature, while others have
good springs, which may be turned to
profit in raising trout. AS the two
facilities alluded to are quite different,
it will be necessary to treat of them
and the fish suitable for each separately,
and as there are likely more readers of
the JOURNAL OF THE FARM having
brooks on their premises than those who
own good springs, l shall endeavor to
show how the former may be turned to
an advantage, and hold the subject of
trout breeding, for the present in abey-
ance.
The size of pond should, of course,
depend on the volume of water intend
ed to feed it. With a four-inch pipe,
running full, one may have a pond of
half an acre, with six-inch pipe, one
of an acre or more AS before intimat-
ed, l have reference now to ordinary
brook or creek water, and the varieties
of fish, not including trout, which re-
quire colder water In such pond,
fresh water bass, sun fish, suckers, gold
fish, clubs, and the homely but excel
lent cat fish can be multiplied by proper
care, and afford the farmer and his
children sport, as well as palatable and
wholesome food
A pond may be fed by the entire
brook, or "lead" ii. e. a race) may be
used to obtain the desired supply from
a larger stream. If a pond is made by
building the dam across the natural
course, which is generally in hollow,
where it is subject to freshets, one may
have it torn out, or his fish washed
over. 1t is therefore desirable, when
the lay of the land will allow of it, to
turn the course partially, or wholly, as
the case may be, and lead the stream
to site where high water will not
affect it, and allowing the surplus water,
in heavy rains, to follow the old bed of
the brook. This can easily be done by
throwing small dam across the stream
or placing tank and having o water
gate, which will allow only the ordina-
ry volume of the brook to enter the lead.
The pond should be of unequal depth
thronghout-in some places four or five
feet, in others shallow, particularly on
the margin. 1t is desirable that the
bottom in some parts should be of peb-
bles or small stones for suitable breed
ing places for bass and sun fish, and
that an abundant variety of aquatic
plants should be introduced. The object
of encouraging the growth of plants is
two or even threefold They supply
oxygen to the water, keeping it pure
Innumerable flies and insects deposit
their eggs on them, which in time
become larvae (small worms,) and mi
mute mollusos and fresh water crustace
harbor in them, all of which are food
for fish Besides this, they are place
Of refuge for the young fish from the
large predatory fishes 1t will also be
well to stock the pond we'll with small,
worthless spices, as minnows, stone
fish, sinners or roach, ETC., as food for
the bass and sun fish. Pike, by all
means, should be excluded, for they
feed almost entirely on other fish,
while the food of bass consists much,
of the food already mentioned as being
found on water plants
The harm which musk-rats are so
apt to work to pond may be obviated
by simply enclosing it with pail fence,
the ends of pickets entering the ground
three or four inches, and being close
enough to exclude these mischievous
animals. Musk-rats always commence
their holes UNDER the water and extend
them into the bank, and, as it is their
nature not to burrow in any other way,
with this inexpensive precaution one
need feel no apprehensons of an inroad
from them.
The eggs of any of the fish mention
ed for such a pond cannot be obtained