Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-05
CARP CULTURE.

CARP CULTURE.
THE ANNUAL DRAINAGE OF THE PoNDs-THE
CROP GOOD BEYOND NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
SUCCESS OF CARP ENTERPRISES IN THE SOUTH
THE PROSPECTS FOR THE COMING YEAR.
As stated in Mondays STAR, the yearly drain
ing off the water from the government carp
ponds was commenced last Saturday and was
continued Monday. The results show that the
season for breeding has been successful beyond
the expectation Of Prof. Baird, under whose
general supervision this work is prosecuted.
liz has been but few years since this new in
dustry CT fish culture was started in this coun-
try and from the success thus far obtained
wherever it has been introduced, it bids fair to
become profitable industry. There are now
three large ponds in which these fish have been
cultivated, in the group at the foot of the Wash
lngton monument, and another. much larger than
the Others, will be added the coming season,
containing eight acres. This pond will be COM
pleted in q few days, when the water will be let
in and stock of about $50 large carp will be
put in, which, it Is expected, will materially in
crease the annual supply to meet the orders
received constantly by Prof Baird.
THE YouNG>cARP
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 esti-
mated to be about34O 600. These are the young
fish Matched out last season in May, June and
July, and are now of nearly uniform size,
healthy and just in the condition to be shipped.
Ihe entire number sent from this city last year
by Professor Baird was about 300 OO That
number will probably be nearly doubled this
year. The large pond, which will be stocked
this spring for the first time, it Is thought will
swell the number to be distributed next year to
at least 100000.
THE NEW POND.
The work of preparing this pond has been
delayed on account of the springy nature of the
bottom where the gates are located at the lower
or southern end, but it is believed that all Diff
culties have now been overcome and that the
embankment dividing the lake from the river is
80 solidly constructed as to be proof against
washing away by any food, and that the locks
and gates are thoroughly secure There are
about seventy of the original fish brought from
Germany still alive and in these ponds. They
are about thirty inches in length and large in
proportion, but OF course their growth is slow
on account Of being used as breeders. Some of
them weigh from Is to 25 pounds. Carp grow
much faster during the first four years, while
attaining the full spawning age after which the
growth OF the female is retarded. The young
fish Matched out last May vary in length from
to inches. There were about 70, 600 of them
taken from the Babcock lake.
THE ENEMIES OF THE CARP.
When the lakes are drained each year all the
eeis and catfish are thrown out, as they devour
the young carp. There are not many of them
usually found, and what there are, are of so
small size that they can do but little damage
These ponds are getting to be in better condi-
tion every year, as the banks about them become
more compact. It is an interesting sight to
walk around the edges Of these ponds after the
water has been drained and witness the opera
tiOns OF the carp upon the shores. 1t is well
known to all who have visited the place that the
SideS OF the banks are Closely paved with stones
like the old round paving stones formerly used
for streets. These extend for some distance
down into the water, and the interstces be-
tween them are packed with clay and mud,
where the grass takes root which serves to fur
nish food for the young fish. Below these stones
is formed considerable quantity of clay in the
form Of ridge. This ridge is perfectly honey
cOmbed with small holes bored by the Young
carp In search of Larvae and small worms, as we'll
as tender roots, of which they are fond.
AN ANIMATED PUMPKIN
DR Hassel, who has charge of these lakes. told
STAR reporter that last summer he put into
one of the small ponds on the island a large
pumpkin, weighing sixty pounds, first cutting
hole in the side of it so that the small fish could
get inside. He states that 1t was entirely de-
voured in eight days, rind and all, and during
the whole time it was constantly in motion from
the schools of young fish, always at work upon
It. They seemed exceedingly fond of the sweet
morsei. and appeared to thrive on it. The sides
OF these lakes. paved with stone, as above de-
scribed, have to be repaved, and the clay well
packed at the lower edge. as every year the
carp undermine the walls by burrowing and
boring for small worms.
THE FOOD OF THE CARP.
DR.. Hassel has some powerful microscopes in
his office, which he is continually making use of
in the examinations of the fish and the food upon
which they subsist. One of the substances Which
the young fish seem most to relish Is sort of
aqueous plant, always submerged, of q deep
green color and Shiny. called alg8, and when
on the surface known as conferve. This when
seen through a microscope, is a mass of plants,
full Of joints at regular intervals, and swarming
with anfmalcul@, all in constant motion. These
are constantly devOured by the carp, and as
constantly being reproduced, 80 that there
growth Is very rapid.
THE PROFITS OF CARP CULTURE
As to the pecuniary success which has been
attained by carp culture, thus far everything is
promising. One gentleman in one Of the south
ern states reports that from the twenty-five fish
he received about two and half years ago, he
sold last year $500 worth of young carp from
the first spawning. DR.. Hsssel places the carp
next to the shad in point of value a. food fish,
but does not consider it equal to the salmon
The leather carp is the favorite, as it has no
scales, and 1t is always thrifty and vigorous
The past winter has been quite favorable for
these fish. as they have been able most of the
time to feed. He states that about 10, 900 of
these fish escaped into the Potomac during the
last heavy freshet, when the water from the
river swept over the ponds, and this accounts
for so many being caught about the river flats.
Hundreds Of persons who have received fish
from Prof. Baird give the most satisfactory
accounts Of success. The most of these &C
counts come from the southern states. where
the ponds are not so cold. 1t is found that in
ponds which have cool sprngy bottoms, the fish
do not thrive 80 well as when the water Is of a
higher temperature. and for this reason the
most catering accounts come from the south
ern states.
THE PROSPECTS
DR.. Hassel states that he hopes Prof. Bairds
next crop will number at least million, and he
believes it will, should no accident happen to
the pIopagating lakes. The entire area of water
which win be given to carp raising the coming
season will be twenty acres. Babcock lake con-
tains six acres, the north lake and the one south