The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-08-03
7.-FEEDING THE CARP.

! In conclusion | will make some
remarks on the feeding OF carp
in close ponds. 1t is not every
natural pond which is Il good
pond, having the essentials OF a
good soil at the bottom and capa-
! bic of producing sufficient food for
the fish. If these conditions are
wanting, the fish must be fed. This
! is as a general rule only necessary
in ponds with sandy bottom with
out any clay. AS I have said
before, am not IN favor of feeding
fish, as my standpoint is that Of
the rational culturist sharing the
opinion with most Of the promi-
nent piscicullurists Of the OLD
World, that the carp should find
its own food in the ponds.
If, however, the nature of the
bottom demands artificial feeding,
or if suitable food can be had at a
remarkably cheap price, the feeding
should be done with great caution.
Never feed in one and The same
place; even if the pond be very
large, distribute the food in differ
ent places near the banks. If
the food is always put in one
place, or even if it is distributed
over two places, the carp will stay
in tho neighborhood Of these
places, will become langu!d, and
instead Of securing the other parts
of the pond in search OF food, will
remain at the bottom. 1t will
even if surrounded by the richest
food, grow fat, but never have
any firm flesh nor will it ever
grow much in length, as the some
what phlegmatic fish does not get
the exercise which favors it's
growth.
Never give them much food at
one time, but by degrees, in small
quantities, never during the day,
but either early in the morning or
in the evening. During the hot
season only feed them late al
night, because the carp, if it has
eaten sufficient in the morning,
will remain at the 'nm all day,
while during the higher tempera-
ture Of the water it is necessary
for it's health that it should swim
round and get a change of water.
1t j" therefore useful to place in
poLIs containing large carps q linn
tied number Of pixies which bow
ever, must be smaller than the
carp. The carp fears the pike
and flies from it. If there are
pixies in the pond, the carp will
get more exercise and will seek
natural feeding-places, whittier on
account of its innate sluggishness
it would never have gone.
Pond-carp are accustomed to
other food than the river.carp.
The former confne themselves to
worms, Larvae, and plants, while
those living III streams find all
sorts of animal and vegetable re-
fuse ; these latter can also stand a
greater amount OF food, as the
current naturally makes them
take more exercise, thus increas-
ing their appetite. Itis different
with the pond.carp if you give
it too much food, it will not take
any more than is necessary to
satisfy its hunger; the remnants
will remain at the bottom, and if
their quantity be considerable,
they will spoil the water. If these
remnants arc chiefly animal re-
fuse, as flesh or blood, fungi will
grow on them, and will then pro.
duce, as with the salmon and
trout, disease of tho skin, the gills,
and IN the case Of the carp, some.
times internal diseases.
The writer once bad the follow
ing experience During his ab
sence a number of large carp were
fed on coagulated blood which had
begun to putrefy; the fish devoured
it eagerly, got sick, and most Of
them died in few days from an
| Inflammation Of the intestines.
Spoilt food should never be given
to fish. If sIaughter-house Or
kitchen refuse can De had, give
these, chopped up small about the
size Of peas. Never give so much
that remnants remain for any
length Of time in the water and
begin 10 putrefy. Let no one be
induced by the circumstance that
the carps like to eat the dung Of
hops, sheep and COWS, TO feed
op1, rafuinrr