The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-06-24
Small Fish Ponds.

men:
"What are the most desirable kinds
of fish to stock pond fed from spring
size of pond say so by $50 feet, about
one third of it ten feet deep, clay bot
tom How and where shall procure
them, and what suggestions can you Of
fer ?u
The data are altogether too meager to
give any satisfactory or definite reply,
Whether brook trout, the most beauti-
ful and most coveted of our native fish
es, can be cultivated in the pond, de.
ponds altogetherupon the copiousness of
the spring, If the spring is small, and
in dry time in summer but little more
water runs than is evaporated from the
surface of the pond, then trout are out
of the question. They would do well
enough for nine months in the year, but
in the critical time in summer. when
the temperature of the water in the
pond would go up to &c deg. or so deg,
the trout would be seen floating upon
the surface, dead OF dying. If they
should go through the first year, MS they
might in case of abundant rains. they
would not be safe in the exceptional
dry seasons that are sure to come. II
should be remembered by all persons
who want TO cultivate trout, that these
dry seasons are very hard upon trout,
even in brooks we'll stocked and in IA
vorite localities. We have known such
seasons in Connecticut, where, in the
lower portions of fine trout streams the
fish died by thousands, and were saved
from total destruction only by unfail-
ing springs in tho head waters. and
swamps, where few found refuge. An
abundant supply of spring water, of the
of about so deg, is essen
tial to the successful cultivation of trout
They will live in water of higher tenn
perature for portion of the time, if a
spring is within reach. They will
flourish in small ponds If the spring is
copious and the change of water is fire.
quent. Some springs discharge from
300 to 1900 gallons minute and of
course that amount of water, minus the
portion evaporated, would pass out of
the pond every minute. The warmer
water upon the surface would he re-
placed by the water directly from the
spring, and the temperature would lie
kept down whore trout could live. If
my correspondent has n spring of this
capacity, he may cultivate trout Be-
fore stocking his pond, however, it
would he safe for him to invest in
"Stonc upon Trout Culture" or some
other good manual, which he can order
from any book store in the city, or
from the publisher, ]. r. Osgool & Co.
Of Boston. Trout culture is one Of the
Tine arts, and some experience Is need
ed to succeed in it. One thing Is gen
orally overlooked by those who make
venture in trout ponds. It is neces-
sary for these beautiful creatures to be
fed with animal food if they are to grow
rapidly, and be served up at the table.
In their native brooks they prey upon
other fish and upon one another.
They catch worms and insects that float
down the current. There is constant
succession Of winged creatures drop
ping into the brook from trees and
bushes, that support them. All this ia
wanting In the pond upon gentle
mans lawn and must he supplied from
some other source, or the (lsh grow
thin and poor. Unless one is located
near q city or village, where the offal
of fish and meat markets is cheap and
plenty, trout cannot be economically
raised in small pond The lungs OF
beef cattle and sheep are among the
cheapest and best sources of food for
adult trout. It should be run through
a sausage cutter, and be fed every day,
early in the morning or just al night,
all through the year, when the pond Is
free from ice. Near lhe sea shore,
where the small fish are abundant, these
may answer equally as well. Without
q cheap supply of animal food in some
form, there is no profit in fish pond,
But there arc great many ponds toe
warm for trout, where other fish are
available. 1t is quite probable that oul
correspondents pond is of this charac
ter If it was larger, we should say
black bass were available, But they
want ten-acre pond or more, with 9
good stream running through, Large
natural ponds or mill ponds, with gray,
ely or rocky bottom. are the best fol
this superb game fish. All the finel
sorts of fish want clear, lively water fol
their propagation and cultivation. Vel
low perch and roach would probably dc
well in his pond, but they are not first
rate for the table. The golden carp o
gold fish Of the city markets would un
questionably do we'll. but they are no
particularly desirable az food FISH
They are beautiful object in clear wa
ter, and are much cultivated In small
ponds, in cultivated grounds, by peopl
fond of the finny tribes. they have
market value, but the sale is principal
~ limited TO the large cities, for glas
globes and acquariums. For ornamen
ana Tor ploasure,a small fish pond ma,
be very desirable upon a gentleman
promises II Is only in exceptions
cases that they can be made profitable
Conntry Gent.
In the stir AT Cincinnati and the duh
nesa at Washington, little attention LA
been given to the complete vindicatlo
of Speaker Kerr by unanimous vot
Of the House. II is no less gratifying