The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-12-11
CARP AND THE WATER FARM.

Among the best of recent emigrants
who have come over here to stay, is that
new and thriving family, the carp. 1t
has given the Ledger great satisfaction
on previous occasions to commend the
work of the United States Fish Commits
sion. Professor Biard's annual reports
are about as interesting reading as can
be found anywhere-witness the story of
thu Menhaden, and furnishes one of the
finest instances of applied science in all
the Governments work. What the Agri-
cultural Bureau might be, with business
men of broad knowledge at its head, is
shown by the usefulness of this one de-
partment, that makes itself felt already
all over the country. Take the case of
the newcomers, the carp. Less than four
years ago, abont 100 European carp, b.
hemian and others, were brought over to
this country alive, and given home in
the Commissions ponds, in Washington
1t was desired to naturalize the carp, be-
cause it was a vegetable feeder, unlike
many native American fish, that prey
upon each others young-a serious dis
advantage in the stocking of rivers
Pickerel and black bass are pirates of the
waters, but the carp belongs to the Peace
Society. The hundred and thirty got
aut their naturalization papers for 140,-
600 of their descendants. In this short
time the original families have grown to
that number. Now the young fish are
being distributed over the country to
those who apply for them.
The business of water farming has al
ready its rules and its profits. 1t makes
an old farmer stare to be told that a
quarter of an acre, laid down in water.
will bring him in more profit, in food
raising, than quarter of an acre cult
waited in any other way. Also that corn
fed to carp brings in twice or three times
the returns in food than the same num-
Der of bushels fed to pigs or other cattle.
The carp is vegetable feeder so that it
can support itself in the vegetable
growths and eonferv@ of pounds and
streams. But it thrives and increases
enormously when regularly fed as other
stock is fed. 1t does its own grazing if
it is let alone; but it can be fattened for
the marker on bread crumbs or cabbage
leaves. Its most profitable food, is boil
ed dry corn, that is, corn out of the corn
crib, dried on the cob and then boiled.
Some 1000 young fish, in lots of TWEEN
ty have already been distributed through
out New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois,
Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Michigan, Connecticut, Tennessee, Tex
as, Georgia, Mississippi and Maryland.
There are 5000 applicants still to be sup
piled in turn. An agent of the Fish
Commission goes into district, having
previously notified applicants of the time
and place where he will be. Each appli-
cant brings with him vessel that will
hold twenty young carp. The progeny
of twenty in few years ic sufficient to
stock tive-acre pond, but the quarter
acre ponds are sufficient to begin with
and work for market and table supplies.
Milton p. Peirce, Assistant L. S. Fish
Commissioner, at Wenonah, New Jer-
soy, has young carp for free distribution
through Eastern Pennsylvania and South
ern Jersey. Applicants by letter to him
will elicit information as to the means
and terms for getting the young fish,
The carp breed at two or three years Of
age, and their growth is as rapid as their
fecuntiity is great. The "four-year-olds"
in the Government ponds weigh from ten
to fifteen pounds. Carp is the chicken
of the water as to its flesh, and we have
given these details some prominence for
our farm readers, because of the case
with which this quarter-acre crop is
raised, and because whatever makes food
abundant and profitable to raise ON small
plots of ground is of interest 10 all read
ers.-PhHadelphia Ledger.