Smyrna times., 1882-01-04

The CULTURE OF CARP FIsH.-Proba-
Oily one OF the most profitable industries
recently introduced into Delaware, is the
culture OF the German Carp This fish
i'll its three distinct varieties, has formed
an important food product for Germany
for centuries; and it is an unusual occur-
rance to find a we'll managed farm there
that has not its accompanying Carp pond
and so we'll are the fish relished there
that although raised in such large ouanti-
ties they readily command ten cents per
pound when labor is to be had at forty
cents per day. The fish is one of the
most prolific known, and its increase when
properly attended to is SO great that
cannibal fish are frequently employed to
dsvour the young, SO that there NAV be n
quick, large growth of the others. bv
reason OF having more food &c, Unfor-
tunately most all fish are cannibals and
from this fact, the Carp being a law fish
IS destroyed by other fish, so that to get
proper results, ponds for Carp culture
should be ent irely free from all other fish
This industryin Delaware is so recent that
but few authentic reports can be had. but
such indicate that we have natural food in
abundance, that the climatic Influence
are producing better results than in Germ
any, and that fish here but eighteen months
old without artificial feeding weigh from
two to two and one-half lbs. The habits
of the carp are in many respects differ
ent from our fish here, and ponds for
their culture are generally made to meet
their requirements. William &. Hill of
this town commenced the preparation of a
pond last spring, arranging it after the
most improved methods, in fact under the
personal direction of the Assistant U. S.
Fish Commissioner, This pond from its
location forms one of the handsomest arti-
hclal pondsin the State; in fact perhaps the
only one thus far that is arranged with
the proper system required. The bottom
OF the pond is so arranged that part of
1t IS covered with a substantial wooden
noor, what is usually termed collector" :"
SO arranged that by current of water
the hsh from the entire pond can be collec-
ted there and caught. This arrangement
Is necessary on account of the habit of the
fish In diving down in the mud at the
least sign of fear. The bed of the bottom
OF the pond, except small portion of
mud surface where the fish will hibernate
during the winter, is well planted with
grasses, lilly roots and various kinds of
wild seeds. The overflow to protect tho
newly made banks, and the arrangement
for drawing off the entire body of water.
are features of its completeness. During
the early spring he will GRish another
pond In which event he will have about
five acres, and will attempt to propagate
two distinct kinds The flesh Of the Carp
has been eaten and pronounced fully
equal to our famous Delaware Shad by
Hon. James Williams, formerly member of
Congress from this State, who has Carp
pond. We have no doubt but that the
efforts put forth by Mr. Hill will be highly
satisfactory. Every farmer who has q
ravine or bottom on his farm through
which runs q stream or spring has a piece
of land that can be made more valuable
than any piece Of land on his whole farm.
The rapidly increasing interest which
is being manifested throughout the coun-
try concerning Carp culture has perhaps
never been equalled in the history of any
new industry. It is believed that from
10000 to $4,000 persons in this country are
| investigating the business, and it is known
that over 1000 have already commenced
operations and have applied 10 the Coy
ernment authorities for stocks of Carp,
which are furnished free. The great sue
cess of the business has been established
beyond a doubt and TO the satisfaction oi
those now engaging In 1t.