The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-12-24
Deer Greek Farmers Club.
CULTIVATION OLE FISH.


CULTIVATION OF FISH
The Deer Creek farmers Club met at the res
idcncc of Mr. Z. NJ Allen, on 'Saturday, Dcccn-
Der 18th. Of the active members there were
present Messrs. Jas Lee president B. Silver,
Jr,, Secretary Janney Walters, Rogers, W. d,
Lee, Silas b. Silver, Webster, Lochary, Archer,
Munnikhuysen, Moores, Thos. A. Hays VIM. +.
Hays, Geo. +. Silver and Barnes. A number of
honorary members and Others were present,
among whom were Mcssrs ID. f. Shurc VIM.
Gilpin, Geo. Jones, d. E. Wilson, II. B. Mccoy,
d. q. Mccoy, A. +. Galbreath, Dr. j. NJ. Ma
graw, j. NJ. Jacobs, Mr.. Cummings, S. NJ. Bay
less, j. P. Silver, VIM. Easter and A. f. Hays.
An inspection of Mr.. Aliens large and we'll
arranged barn was made by the club in n body.
The substantial manner in which it has been
built, the labor-saving facilities in use, and the
convenience of the entire structure met with
general approval. Mr.. Aliens fine young horse,
by Marshal Ney, was pronounced tautless. Mr..
Allen also has a remarkably fine Short Horn
bull, eighteen months old, which was much adj
mircd
Mr.. Janney suggested the ACCESSIBILITY of hold
ing auction sales Of stock, agricultural implc-
ments, &c, ut stated times throughout the year,
under the direction of the club lie thought
such sales would be of great convenience to
both sellers and buyers. Often Il farmer has
surplus of certain kinds of stock and his near
est neighbor may be in want of such stock and
not know where to get it. A sale of that kind
you'd attract buyers from distance and would
benefit the county.
Judge Walters, Mcssrs. Allen, Moorcs, Geo.
E. Silver Mccoy and others expressed their APP
prevail of the plan, and Messrs. Moorcs, Jonney,
Walters, Allen and Jas. Lee were appointed a
committee to prepare rules and regulations for
such sales.
The question appointed for consideration was
"Would it be practicable or beneficial to cult
yatc fish in farm streams or ponds?"
Mr.. Allen thought the subject worthy of at
tention. 1t might possibly be advantageous to
propagate fish. In Germany, carp, it is said, are
easily propagated, grow rapidly and are an ex
cellent table fish.
Mr.. Janney believed that if they could be
propagated at q small expense il would be very
good thing TO have fresh fish on our tables and
not eat so much salt meat The carp has been
said 20 occupy the same position to other fish
that the hog does to other animals.
Judge Walters thought it an industry which
can be and ought to be developed.
Mr.. Webster said he was interested in the sub
ject, as his farm is well adapted to the culture of
fish,
Mr.. Archer did not think the plan of stocking
our streams with fish practicable. What has
become of all the fish which were dumped into
our streams years ago? He thought it contrary
to nature to introduce fish not indigenous to our
| streams, and regarded the introduction of bass
into the Susquehannaa greater injury than good.
Mr.. j. p. Silver, while not opposed to the in
PRODUCTION Of fish into our streams, thought it
not practicable for farmers. As for carp, when n
hoy he used 10 throw them away, when he caught
them. We ought to be careful about the intro
duction of carp; they might destroy our native
fish. Fishermen had told him that If u few
more bass had been put in the Susquehanna we
would have had no shad nor herring left. Still,
it would be great thing to increase our fish.
MIR. X. Is. Mccoy said many thousands of
California salmon and black bass had been put
in Broad Creek and none but few small bass
have been seen since. five would have to make
dams and ponds for carp it would not pay to
propagate them
Mr.. Allen read an interesting article, written
by Prof. Baird, of the L. s. Fish Commission, on
the German carp, which showed how easily they
can be propagated and asserted that they are a
superior fish for the table Mr.. Allen thought
1t entirely practicable to raise plentiful supply
of fish for family.
Mr.. Shure said that from what Mr.. Allen had
read carp did not require much water. Any
little stream would be sufficient to make pond.
The border might be set with willows, and
aquatic grass of some kind might be sowed-
The carp would do well in such pond, because
they live best in mud. He had not much faith
In stocking streams with fish. Mr.. Shure,
speaking of fish destroying each other, said one
of his sons had caught rock fish six inches
long, which contained II young shad another,
somewhat larger, contained Is young shad.-
He had not found them in bass because Il bass
can digest young shad in four or five minutes.
Afriend of his, fishing for bass, baited his hook
with a young shad. He caught bass, which
swallowed the bait and hook. Ten or twelve
minutes afterwards the bass was opened prepa
ratory to putting it in the frying pan, and the
young shad was found to be halfdigested already
He was disposed to attribute the scarcity Of sun
fish, white and yellow perch in the Susquchanna
to the introduction of bass.
MIR. Easter thought the efforts to stock Deer
Creek with fish were perfect failure. The bass
put in had died or disappeared. Fish ponds he
supposed, might breed sickness.
Mr.. Thos. A. Hays has dam in which he in
tends to try to raise carp.
DR.. Magraw did not think any fish but carp
could be raised in ponds, and thought it not
worth while to try to raise other fish in our
streams.
Mr.. Galbreath did not think it practicable to
stock streams, but 1t is practicable and almost
necessity to stock ponds. They are raised in
this manner in York county. A friend of his
has been successful in raising trout and intends
now to try the carp. Every farmer ought to
have fish pond.
Mr. Moores thought fish can be cultivated
successfully, but was afraid to have SO many
ponds scattered through the country He had
had little chill, this fall, and was shy of such
bodies of water. He did not think carp could
be fit to eat
Mr.. Allen thought that if the water in dams
does not diminish in depth there would be no
danger of malaria. People who make fish ponds
must take pains to see that they are always kept
full of water AS to carp not being fit to eat,
there was too much testimony to the contrary
to allow of doubt.
Mr.. Moorcs thought it was practicable TO
stock even Deer Creek, but not enough trouble
had been taken yet to do 80. ...
Mr.. s. b. Silver did not think it practicable
to stock small streams with fish, especially with
carp. He hoped MIR. Hays would give the ex
pertinent good trial.
Benz. Silver, Jr., thought those with ponds
were foolish not to try to stock them with carp.
1t does not follow he thought, that carp were
not fit to eat because they live in the mud during
the winter. Those who have tasted them say
they are good. A duck will eat any thing, from
a lamp wick to an elephant, yet duck is thought
to be good food. It would require very little
trouble to stock ponds with carp and they would
be great luxury.
Mr. Allen did not think that the efforts to
stock Deer Creek with fish had been failure
The failure to catch bass from not using proper
bait. Good strings of bass had been caught at
Wilson's MILL and bass weighing so pounds
had been caught in the creek where It runs
through his yard.
Adjourned to, meet at the residence of Mr..
Benjamin Silver, on the Sth of January next
Subject for discussion: "County Taxes; how |
can they be lessenedy'