The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-04-13
Carp Culture

The Washington Star has the following.
The yearly draining OIL Of the water from
government carp ponds was commenced
last Saturday and was continued Monday.
Results show that the season for breedin-
was successful beyond the expectation OF
Professor Baird. There are now three large
ponds in. which fish have been cultivated. In
the group at the foot of Washington monu.
mcnt, another, much larger than the Others
will be added the coming season, contain.
ing eight acres. This pond will he
completed in n few days, when the
water will be let in and stock of
about 80 large carp will be put in, which,
il is expected, will materially increase
the annual supply 10 meet the orders re-
ceived constantly by Prot. Baird. The
number of young carp of last years spawn
thus far taken out of these ponds, and
placed in the pools on the small island by
the lakes, is estimated TO be about 10000
There are the young fish Matched out last
season in May, June and July, and are now
of nearly uniform size, healthy, aud inst
in condition to be shipped. The entire
number sent from this city last wear Inv
Prof Baird was about 100000. That mum.
Der will probably be nearly doubled this
year The large pond will be stocked this
spring for the first time, and IL is thought
will swell the number TO be distributed
next year to at least 100000. There nrc
about seventy of the original fish brough;
from Germany still alive in ihe
sea ponds. They are about thirty
inches in length aud large In
proportion, Some of them weigh from
fifteen to twenty-five pounds Carp grow
much faster during the first four years.
while attaining the full spawning age, amer
which the growth of the female is retarded
The young fish Matched out last May vary
in length from three to seven inches.
When the lakes are drained each rear all
the cells and catiisrare thrown out, as they
dcvour the young carp. DIR. llassel, who
has charge of these lakes, told reporter
that last summer he put into one of the
small ponds on the island large pumpkin,
weighing sixty pounds, first cutting hole
in the side OF It, So that the small fish could
get inside, He states that IL was entirely
dcvoured In eight days, rind and all, and
during the WHOLE time II was constantly In
motion from the schools OF young fish
always at work upon Il. They seemed
exceedingly fond OF the sweet morsel, and
appeared TO thrive on II.
The sides OF the lakes, paved with stone.
have to be rcpavcd and the clay well
packed at the lower edge, as every year the
carp undermine the walls by 6nrrowinr
and boring for small worms. One of the
substances which the young fish seem TO
relish, is sort of aqueous plant, always
submerged, of deep green color, and
Shiny. This, when seen through micro.
scope, N n mass OF plants full of Joints, M
H,sttNnN tpIaNNnl9 quarantine. ,,.,
all In constant motion. These are
constantly dcyourcd by the carp, and as
constantly being reproduced. so that there
seems TO be no end TO the crop Of food.
AS TO the pccuniary success which has
Been attained by carp culture thus far
is promising. One gentleman,
IN one OF the southern states, reports that
from the twenty-five fish he received about
two and half years ago, he sold las, year
seq worth of young carp from the first
spawning. Dr. Hasscl places the carp next
to the shad In point of value as food fish.
but does not consider IL equal 10 the sal,
mon. The leather carp is the favorite, as Il
has no scales and Is always thrifty and Wig.
orous. The past winter has been quite IN.
vornhlc for these fish, as they have been
able most Of the time TO feed. Hundreds
nf persons who have received fish from Fro.
lessor Baird give the most satisfactory ac-
counts OF success. Most or these accounts
ZONE from southern states, where the ponds
are not so cold.
DIR, nasscl states that he hopes Professor
Baird's next crop will number at least a
million, and he believes Il will. should no
accident happen TO the proragating lakes.
The entire area ofwhtcr which will he given
10 Carp.raising the coming season. win be
twenty acres Washington Special 10