Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-06-09
Jhe Aurkrille Guq'lirer.
YORKVILLE. s. c.:
THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE 9, 1881,
GERMAN CARP.

GERMAN CARP.
The subject of fish culture is growing IN
interest among the people, and we think, at
no distant day, the business may become
source of profit to those having the proper ia
cilities for constructing the necessary ponds
There is no reason that we have yet been
able to discover, why the owner of land,
properly supplied with water, may not have
his fsh.pond and raise fish for his own table
use or for market, the same as he raises pigs
and chickens, mutton and beef, or any other
table food. With this view We have printed,
from time to time, practical articles bearing
upon the subject, and on our first page this
week we publish an illustrated article, giving
directions for the construction of ponds and
the modus operandi for propagating and rails
ing the German Carp, which seems to be the
favorite species for private ponds, owing to the
comparative ease with which they can be rails
,ed and their rapid attainment of growth. For
the illustrations accompanying the article, we
are indebted to Hon. A. P. Butler, Commits
sioner of Agriculture, who, in furtherance OF
an Act of the Legislature, is displaying COM
mendable zeal in awakening the people of the
State to the Importance of this matter. He
has already distributed large numbers in
various sections Of the State, and at the prop
er time, which cannot be before the fall and
winter, will endeavor to supply the young
fish to all who make application for them.
Printed blanks for the purpose of making re-
quest of the Agricultural Commissioner at
Columbia, will be furnished by his depart
ment to applicants, and on being filled out and
returned, will, in their regular order, meet at,
tention. Those who make such request should,
in the meantime, construct their ponds, being
careful to follow the directions, for, as will be
seen, much depends upon proper construc'
tion Of the pond.
We feel satisfied that the experiment of
a 6sh-pond will well repay the trouble, pro-
vided the proper care is taken in its con-
struction and the general directions for the
treatment of the fish are observed. Already
they have been introduced in this county by
several enterprisng gentlemen, who have
made application for the young ones, and
so far as we have learned, the most graft.
flying results have attended the experiment.
Mr.. R. E. Guthrie, of Guthriesville, in this
county, practical man, and successful in all
he undertakes, stocked pond last January,
and is even now quite enthusiastic over his
prospect Of an abundant supply of fish at a
small outlay of expense. At our request
for a statement of the success which he has
met, under date of the 3rd instant, he writes
as follows:
As the subject of fish culture is becoming
one of general interest, will give you my
experience with German Carp so far. In
January last, I received from the Department
of the Interior at Washington, twenty Ger
man Carp of the "Mirror' variety, and put
them in pond previously prepared for them.
I saw nothing more Of them until the First
day of this month, wnen drained the water
off the pond for the purpose of destroying the
young fry and the eggs of the red perch that
I had failed to get rid of in reconstructing my
pond in December, although the pond was,
drained and the bottom remained dry for two
weeks before making the permanent dam.
In the last draining of the pond, found the
Carp had made growth of ten inches in
length, and are very thick and chubby. This
extraordinary growth | would not have be.
lieved, had T not seen the fish when first put
in the pond. Then they we're about the size
and shape of an ordinary Congress pocket
knife.
Mr.. John F. Hinson, who lives near me,
and who received at the same time the same
number and placed them in his pond,
saw nothing more of them until about ten days
ago, when he commenced feeding them. He
had only thrown them food few times, when,
on going to feed them at the usual time,
(about sunse) by stamping on the ground,
they readily made their appearance, rolling
and tumbling over each other like pigs at the
trough. They also keep the bottom of the
pond rooted up and muddy much after the
manner ofpigs.
My experience may not amount to much
yet, to enable me to speak advisedly, but l
am satisfied that all that has been claimed
for the fish can be realized by any one having
suitable facilities for constructing pond,
simply by complying with the instructions
given for their culture R. E. GUTHRIE.
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SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.
DIR. Lander, of Williamson, suggests the