The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1881-03-30
Enemies Of the Carp.
WINSsBoRo,s. c., Jan, 81.
Hon. A. II. Butler;

OtrAh DIX. As the nSn interest is
on the increase generally, and special
regard is manifested for the German
Carp. / deem it a duty to inform you
that / have discovered new enemy
to these latter against which it would
be well for beginnersto guard. 1 al
lude to the crawAsh aslit is commonly
known. I had few OF the carp re-
Gently sent me, by YOU, in a small hole
of water on my spring branch prepara-
tory to putting them in my pond, and
on the following day observed one
horribly mangled and peculiarly CASH
ed and several of the fins presenting
the appearance of having been nibbled
off by minnow or some other small
animal. My curiosity was excited to
know this new depredator, and scat
ed myself for observation. Soon n
crayfish of large size-not larger, how
ever, than hundreds to be seen in any
of our branches-made its way from
under some trash and renewed it's at
tack upon the carp, which was not
dead, but was so injured rs to be in
capable of fight, or resistance in any
way. The crayfsh was dispatched at
once, of course, and the carp, a fine
specimen about five inches long, trans
ferred to other and more secure quar-
tcrs, where it died of its wounds in a
short time. A few days ago, desiring
to see how the carp had stood the re-
cent unusual cold snap, / drew down
pend in which / had them, and dis
covered that all were we'll except one
that found dead, recently killed, and
on it the same character of wounds
and nibbled appearance of fms sbserv.
ed on the one taken from the crayfish
in the branch.
In observing the habits of the cray
fish since my carp disaster, find that
they do not hibernate in their holes,
as j had supposed, but~shat many are
visible in the small branches and on
the bottom Of my pond when drawn
down, which seem quite lively and
energetic in the pursuit of food re-
gardlcss Of the severe cold recently
experienced. | have never had anv
doubt that the crayfish were dcstruc-
tive Of spawn, but these arc the only
instances in which have known or
heard of its attacking successfully fish
which were considerably its superior
in size. It's attacks seems to be con-
fined to the new comers.
These observations arc Of interest
and should be followed up, for it may
be that the carp in its torpid state, in
the mud, is more accessible than
other species that are more active in
winter. think the carp is the coming
fish for the South, if no. for the whole
country. Respectfully,
r. w. WOODWARD.
In this connection | would add that
the attacks Of the crayfish or crawfish
directly upon the fish or spawn is not
the greatest injury it is capnble of in,
flicting on fish culturist. While there
is no doubt of its destroying large
numbers of fish, in the embryo state
and even after they attain consider
able size, it is capable of destroying
fish ponds and their contents in q
single night, by its inroad upon the
dams. and by burrowing from some
neighboring stream or ditch. making
a small subterranean passage, which
gradually increases in size until tn,
entire pond is drained and the entire
contents disappear with the food.
My theory is, and think that NJ,
observations will sustain me, that they
thus burrow beneath water in order /,
conduct it through their channel,
bearing with it any living thing tina
it contains, and thus they are enabled
to make . more successful attack il
capturing their prey. This can b
avoided by driving piling on the in
side Of the dam the entire length. Th'
sides Of the pond should slope gradual
ly from the waters edge, so that be
meath the surface Of the water the,
can be paved with large stones ant
and gravel to a sufficient depth to pre-
vent the draining into surroundin,
streams or ditches That is, the pawn,
stones should extend below the bed o
neighboring streams. This paving il
many localities will only cost small
amount Of labor. All that is necessar,