Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-17
OUTDOOR ADJUSTMENTS.
ITEMS OF INTEREST TO THE LOVERS OF
FIELD SPORTS.

ITEMS OF INTEREST TO THE LOVERS OF
FIELD SPORTS.
In this department. as the head indicates we pro-
pose TO make record of current sporting events.
matters should be addressed to the " Outdoor
Amusement Department Y
THE CARP.-Sportsnlen can engage in
no more delightful avocation than the
culture of fish, and many lovers of rod
and gun are so situated that they can well
afford to lay out and maintain fish ponds.
The care of the fish is delightful pursuit.
The carp is prolific and valuable food
fish and easily raised. The carp thrives
best in artificial or natural ponds with
muddy bottoms, and such as abound in
vegetation. In large ponds it may not be
necessary to furnish any special food, but
in restricted Enclosures as, for instance,
those of fraction of an acre, they may be
fed with the refuse of the kitchen garden,
leaves of cabbage, lettuce, leeks, etc.,
hominy. or other substances. Grain OF
any kind is generally boiled before being fed
to the fishes, but this is probably not abso-
lutely necessary. The refuse of malt from
breweries makes excellent food for them.
1t is prime necessity that there be no pre-
daceous fish IN the same pond with the
carp. OF course, the larger fish will be
measurably secure against the attacks of
carniverous species of about the same size,
but the eggs and young will become prey
to the rapacity of such associates. As a
general rule the fish will thrive best when
they are the sole occupants of particular
waters, although the association Of suckers
and clubs would be less Objectionable than
that of sunfsh, perch or black bass. The
carp spawn in the spring, in May and June,
and indeed, under some circumstances,
throughout the entire summer. The Fish
Commission have young fish that spawned
from May to September. They are very
prolific, yielding from 400, 000 to 500, 600
eggs, according to size. The eggs adhere
tenaciously to whatever they touch, and
new pond should be provided with floating
hatch out in few days, and the young
grow very rapidly. They feed yoraeiously
upon the so-called frog spittle, the green
alga scum so common in frog ponds. Con-
sequently such waters are especially adapted
to carp. Whenever the water becomes
chilled down to perhaps 30 degrees, and
especially when frozen over at the top. the
fish bury themselves in the mud, aggre-
eating in lots Of fifty to one hundred, fire.
quently with their tails projecting, and
constituting what is called in Germany
kettles or roses. 1t is very important that
they should not be disturbed under such
circumstances. OF course, while hyhernat-
ing in this way they are not feeding,
although they are said to lose appreciably
in weight. In the more southern regions,
where the waters do not freeze, they will
probably feed throughout the year, and
make more rapid growth. So far, Prof.
Baird says, no waters have proved too
warm for carp; indeed, they are said to
thrive especially well in reservoirs reeeiv-
ing the condensed waters of low pressure
steam engines in Germany, of over 1907
temperature. As regards the best plants
for carp pond, Prof Baird mentions the
ordinary pond weeds tPoutederia and Sag
ittaria), splatter deck, or pond lily. and,
indeed, any of the kinds that grow in the
water, with leaves floating upon the sur
face, Lockwood among the number. Those
which produce seed, like the wild rice. are
especially desirable, az the fish feed vora-
ciously upon them. The great merit of the
carp for cultivation, next to its excellent
table quality, lies in It's adaptation to shall
low and warm ponds unsuited for ordinary
fish. The country is full of such waters,
now useless, which might be made exceed
ingly productive and there's are thousands OF
swamps in every State, which might easily
be flooded and stocked at small cost in
III In ,,,,l
lagos maintain at common cost for the pub
lie benefit carp ponds of a hundred acres or
more.
The FIRST STocK AND TRoTTING HORSE
IMPORTED TO CALIFoRNIA.--The following
is from the New York Spirit Of July Sd
1t is now no uncommon thing to ship
horses to and from California, but when
the first stock horse, transported there,
was exhibited on Broadway previous to be-
ing laden on the Pacific Mail steamer for
San Francisco, hundreds of people
thronged around him, thinking the enter
prise one of the wonders of the nineteenth
century In 1855, Ansel l. Easton, of San
Francisco, conceived the idea of improving
the stock OF California, and there was GER
tainly need of it, as the horses were then
of the Spanish and Mexican blood, and had
little or no marking of good breeding.
Consequently he interviewed Benjamin
Fish, then the leading horseman of the
city, and said What price viii you ask
to 90 East and purchase for me stock and
trotting horse?" Mr.. Fish replied 81
ask 81 GOO and expenses" 81 accept the
terms, said Mr.. Easton, ''and you shall
live like gentleman ON the route. Pur-
a. s., tLr boaf - &c 10
Rocky Mountains, and for funds l will
credit on the Bank of New York
CITY," After being East short time Mr..
Fish saw Ethan Allen, who was then trot-
ting quite well, aud thought he would
answer his purpose. Offered Sl2, 600 for
him, but was quickly informed that that
amount would not bny his tail Mr..
Fish began to think Ethan might not
be for sale. He next went to Vermont,
where he finally purchased a Black Hawk
stallion, four years old, and of great
promise, paying 81, 500 with $50 additional
for delivering him IN New York city. In
crossing the Isthmus of Panama the horse
became sick, also contracted spinal affec-
ton from which he never fully recovered,
but appeared so well that gentleman from
Los Angeles offered $4,000 for him. On
arriving in San Francisco, Mr.. Fish said to
Mr. Easten, g have returned with horse
for you, but if you do not like him don't
wish to hold you to our contract. But
do like him, replied Mr.. Easton, ~ and
shall accept him. y The arrangement was
that if Mr.. Easton would cancel the con-
tract the horse was to be reshipped to Los
Angeles on the return steamer. This
stallion become very popular throughout
California as a stock horse, and to this day
the Black Hawk stock is spoken of with
great favor. The terms of service were
Sl00, and no warrant with foal. The first
year he earned S., coo for service, and the
second year still larger figures, but was