The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-12-01
4 MODEL FISH POND.


extent, oTnamented with an open house
of artistic design in the centre Of the
waters, which was connected with the
the shore by fanciful bridge. A wide,
clean walk, bOrdeTed the miniature lake,
which mirrored the dense verdure of tall
NAPLES and other trees that partially
sheltered the glare Of the snE and an
old-fashiOued stoue-Uall, of that kind so
common in this region, of flint and iron
stone. lent a further charm by scenting
the otherwise modern surroundings with
an agreeable CdeT of antiquity.
With journalistic assurance, which
nothing daunts, the reporter dismounted
and sought out the proprietor, which
proved to be Mr.. Thomas PaXson. one
Of the enterprising gentlemen of Lou
don county. Va. Having stated his
business. Mr.. Paxson courteously pro-
ceeded to show the points of interest
about the place. He was true type of
a Virginian, with a disinteTested kind
ness beaming in his cOUnteuaLce and
determination to make q man feel at
ease, which he displayed with extreme
" courteous attention. Around him al
ways hovered an amusing satallite, that
turned the dark side Of lis face toward
its planet for the reason that it had no
other side to turn. 1t was, in brief.
sable youth of nine or ten summers.
who, fOrgetful of father and mother,
chose to share the daily vicissitudes and
labor of an adopted master.
We were soon standing within the
open structure in the pond.
Ring 'em up, - said Mr. PaxsOn to
his satellite - at which he began to jim
gle little bell vigorously. In NOM
ent a cOmmOtion in the water was nOtic-
ed over the entire pond, and waves like
g 10
in every direction leading toward the
little house, and before long the water
around us seemed to boilwith the schools
of fish that gathered at the call. He
then fed them corn bread broken into
small fragments. and green corn cut off
the cob. The fish scrambled after it
like 50 many street gammIns after
penny, and some, more YenturesOme
than the rest. large fellows, that must
bring down the scales at five or six lbs.
would leap far out of the water TO catch
piece they saw coming.
There IS d platform two feet beneath
the surface of the water, extending sew
eraI feet beyond the house all around it.
it will be lost, and, laying in the water,
would. in a short time, render the water
foul and unhealthy.
The pond is complete ih every particu-
lar. 1t occupies three fOuths Of an acre
with an average depth of eight feet.
The banks are lined inside vi a plank
wall that reaches several feet below the
bottom of the pond, effectually preclud-
ing all escape of the water by muskrat
boring, or :he washing of tie waves.
Another advantage it possesses, secur-
ing il against inundation in the event of
freshet. is that the surface Of the wa
a e. lrT. E.rR
dow in which it stands. The advantage
of this over the common method OF bull
ding ponds, as low or lower than the
surrounding land. can be readily seen
and is by no means minor cons ideTa-
tion. The pond is fed by stream Of
sufficient water from it conducted III q
blind ditch. Thus only 50 much water
ascan enter a six inch pipe is admitted
to the pond which prevents il being
flooded or washed out even in the high
est water, and the immunity of dirt and
the admission of small creek fish, which
would in many ways injure and destroy
the cultivated fish, is accomplished by
inteTpOsing fine screen between the fish
and the mouth of tie pipe.
No fish but the European carp is cul-
tivated in the pond. A better food fish
does not, perhaps, exist than this. 1t
has always been held in the highest esti-
nation for the table in Europe. The
price paid for it by the Parisians seems
almost incredible. Fifty cents pound
is the sum it commands in the Paris
markets. The average weight of the
fish sold is about four and a half pounds
which brings the average price up to two
dollars and more apiece.
Americans, however. will pay no such
price as that, and fifteen cents pound
is all they command in our large cities.
Prof Stephen Baird, of the SmithsOn-
ian Institution first directed public at
tention to these fish about twenty years
ago, and established ponds for the cul-
ture in Washington, DR.. Hassell, a
German, was brought here to superin-
tend the work, and the government
ponds aresstill in his charge. Any per-
son having a suitable place for them can
obtain number five pairs) to stock a
pond, upon application, accompanied by
a full description of the facilities for
pTopagating them.
Mr.. PaXsOn first obtained one hundred
and forty from DR.. Hassall, about three
months after Matching. His fish spawn
ed when two years old, although the
authorities claim they must be three
years Old before spawning. One fish, il
is said, will spawn 400, 900 eggs of
course all OF these Will not latc1 but
il is safe TO count one fish out of one
hundred eggs. In three years they are
ready for market. Those in this pond,
three years old. measure eighteen inches
and weigh three and a half pounds.
The three varieties SCALE ''leath.
err and marrow are raised here to.
gether. The difference between them
amounts to little more than the differ
ence in the arrangement of the scales OF
the body. The meat of all is the same
similar in appearance to the shad, but OF
a more delicate flavor.
Mr.. Paxson also has another pond,
long and narrow, to prevent much agi
tatiOn of the water by The wind, where
the fish spawn on swamp grass, planted
there for that purpose. Such a growing
pond is a necessity if the grower hopes
eggs.to hatch OF to rear the fry in theil
first few weeks of helpiessness.
In the winter the fish all collect in
the bitches or kettle in the bottom oil
the pond, where they hiberate.
This Is one of the few model ponds IL
the country. Nothing IS neglected fol
the comfort and safety of the fish, and
a more profitable investment of a com
paratively small amount of money car
scarcely be,made. One acre is sufficient
land, and 3, 600 sufficient capital and il
three years the returns begin to pay at
enormous per cent. on the investment
In five years Mr.. PaxsOn will sh!I
L., 600 per annuna, or say 90, 900 pound.
of meat dressed. This may seem like
fish story, but even very low figuring
Drovpc IL