Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1882-08-03
a MOI Ell FISH POND.
Carp for the Million.

O0t BUH INC ElNkUWs
cultivation OF European Fish in Viz
GINA W aters.-Thc Fish Farm Of T.
u. C. Pax<on in ] oudoun.
Contributed to the Syracuse Journal.
AIeporter chanced to be canter-
ing along one of the characterietical-
ly rough roads in Western Virginia,
near Clark's Gap, one day last sun
mer, when the dull roar OF falling
water attracted his attention. Glsnc
ing ahesd he perceived an unusual
sight for that section of the country.
o beautiful pond Of large extent, or
nsmented By an open house OF aris:o
cratic design in the centre ofits waters,
which was connected With the shore
By q fanciful bridge. A wide, clean
walk tordered the miniature lake,
which mirrored the dense verdure Of
tall NAPLES and other trees that par.
italy sheltered it from the glare of the
sun; and an old fashioned stone wall,
of that kind go common in thia region.
OF flint and ironstone, lent further
charm, By scenting the otherwise
modern surroundings With an agrees.
bic odor OF antiquity.
With journalistic assurance, which
nothing daunts, thereposter disuount.
ed and sought outthe proprietor, who
proved to be MIR. Thompson Pa1scn,
one CT the enterpriairg gentlemen o.
Loudoun county, Va. Hsv ng stated
his business, Mr.. Paxson courteously
proceeded to show the points of inter.
est about the place. He was true
type of a Virginisn, with disinterest-
ed kindness beaming in his counter.
ance, and a determination 70 make q
granger feel at ease, which be displsy.
Cd in his extremely courteous attention.
Around him constantly how're an
amusing satellite which alwaysturn' d
the dark side of its face towards ito
plsnet for the reason it had no other
side toturn. 1t was, in brief, sable
youth Of ten eummers, who forget.
fulof father aad mother eheee-te share share
the daily vi,issitudes and labors of an
adopted master.
Wewere, soon standing within the
open ructure in the pond.
"Rinp EN- up" said Mr.. Paxson to
the satellite, at which he tegan to
jingle little bell vigorously. In ?
moment 8 commotion in the water vas
noticed over The entire pond, and
waves ike tie wakes of little boats
could be seen in every direction lead
ing towards the house, and before long
the water around us seemed almost to
boil with the schools of fish that gath
cred at the call. He then Fed them
with cornbread broken into small frag
ments, and green corn of the cob
The fish scrambled after it like SO
many street gamines after penny,
and some more ventureeome than the
rest, 6ne, large fellows that must bring
down the scales at FIVE or six pounds.
would leap far out of the water to
catch piece they paw coming.
There is platform tw feet beneath
the surface Of tbs water, extending
several feet beyond the house all
around it to catch the food. Other
wise much of it would be lost. and
laying in the mud on the bottom would
in short while render the water foul
and unhealthy.
The pond ia complete in every par
t;culsr. It occupies ii .fourtbe
an acre, with an average depth OF
eight feet. The banks are lined in.
side with plank wall that reaches
several feet benesth the bottom Of the
pond, efsectually precludipg all ros
eibility Of an escape of the water by
muskrat boringa, or the washing ofthe
waves. Another advsntageitposses
es. securing it against il undations in
event of freahet, is that the surface
of the water in the pond is six feet
above the meadow in which itstsnda.
The advantage of this over the CON-
mon method Of building ponds as low
or lover than the surrounding land,
can be readily seen, and is by no
means minor consideration. The
pond is fed BY stream. sufficient
water from it is conducted in pipe
six inches in diameter, which leads it
six or eight feet into the blind ditch
Thus only s. much water as can enter
a six irch pipe is sadmitted to The pond,
wbi,h prevents it beirg flooded or
washed out. even in the highs st water,
and immunity from dirt and the sd,
mission of small creek fish, which
would in many ways iriure and de
stroy the cultivated 6sh, is accom-
plished By interposiug fine screen
between the creek and the mouth OF
The pipe.
No ssh but tbs European carp is
cultivated in the pond. a better
food fish does not exist than this. It
has always been held in the highest
estimation for the table in Europe.
m, e. - l. Al. n~:..