Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-22
Utilization Of Small Srrca,,s.

In general the land bordering upon small
olooks, and even larger streams running
in many cases is a nursery OF noxious weeds
and harbof for Vermln. By the expenditure
OF little labor, or small sum OF money. sucf
useless land may be turned to valuable &C
count. BY damming the stream pond OF re
spectan3 size may be made, which, stocked
with f1sS will become source OF larger in
come thaxSevefal times Its area OF the bes,
land upoAAhe farm. Fish culture is too otter
supposed To be troublesome and fussy busi
ness, In which one may spend much money to
little advantage But do not propose dst
culture. | suggest stocking the pond thus
will not require to be fed artl1ctally: such
kinds, In fact, as VIII feed themselves. Asa
rule. the most desirable things cost for LhelI
attainment In proportion TO their scarcity and
desirabinty. Trout, among fish, are the
choicest kind and the most costly to procure.
and 1t Is probable that the man who gets a
has well earned his money. Every one cannot
eat trout. as every one cannot drink cham
payne, but there are agreeable and wholesome
fishes, as we'll as wines. that cost very little,
and the average person may well be contenfed
with them. A perch. either white or yellow,
Is not far behind trout in flavor and firmness
OF flesh. and this rish will thrive in any pond
above the character OF 4 mud hole, and IN
water that is too warm for trout Eels are
easily grown In ordinary ponds. and these are
choice meat. Black bass is choice 1sh, and
may be mixed with clubs and minnoWs, upon
which they WIN feed In fact. the Sind Of fish
to be procured Is altogether secondary mat
ter to the making OF the pond for them.
An estimate OF the value OF half an acre of
pond surface may be made as follows: Ten
pounds weight OF fish may be kept In 240 cubic
rect of water. il the supply OF food is adequate:
heDce half an acre OF an average depth OF
feet viii afford nearly 10000 cubic feet OF
water sufficient In capacity for more than
800 pounds OF fish. Assuming that third OF
the fish Will arrive at eatabie size each year,
this will give supply of 500 pounds OF ish an
nually, Or about Is pounds weekly. Such fish
as may be grown In pond are worth IS cents
pound, making an annual supply worth S30o.
me cost OF catching may be counted as moth
Ing, and doubtless the contract could be let 10
the bOySat that price: In addition to the fish
the Ice may be estimated as worth $50 yearly
amounting as 1t would 10 over 500 tons at one,
foot thick. II only 200 Tons were procured, at
Is cents ton $50 would be realized. | have
known $500 10 be realized from The sale OF Ice
rom a smaller pond than half an acre, a DOL
lar load being charged to parties VINO were
glad to cut It themselves az that rate Some.
thing msy be realized from the water itself. ln
Its use for ir1igatiDg meadows also water.
power, which may DO utilized in raising or for,
cling supply TO the buildings ana YARDS. ana
In other ways which will be found useful In
many cases But il 1t be used only to procure
q supply OF nsh and OF Ice, pond OF this Kind
Will prove an excellent piece OF property. ana
after q time VIII be thought Indisoensabl0.--
Agrtcatltttrat Eagtaeer an The Country Gfs.le-
ntttft. s+.--r-f