Omaha daily bee., 1883-09-19

OF my lie, lney are us CnaIluiiiS W NV
as were those in the spires of my village
home in boyhood. City life does not
change the fact that the c%onsonting tra-
ditions in the churches that now belt the
earth, mako the ringing bell a swcetly at.
tuned and kindly salutatiou II to an
other, and to all the people.
Success with German Carp.
Very encouraging reports ale received
of the experiments i'll raising German carp
in all the states where the fish is IN.
troduced. The largest growth is attained
within n given time in the south, as the
climate is more favorable. The fish being
a vegetable feeder grows while plants are
in n condition t. eat and remains in a
somidormmt state during the winter.
The flesh is not equal to that of the trout,
black bass, or whitctish, but is very good.
Fish, like eggs, much of thoir excel
loncc to being fresh. BY raising fish ON
their own estates farmers can rely ON
having them fresh. The growth of carp,
like that of domesticatcd animals and
birds, may be fastened by liberal feeding.
The s~uality of the flesh may also be i'm
proved Ivy atlording the fish II supply of
well favored food. The fall is an excel
lent time in which to obtain carp for
breeding purposes and for transporting
small fry. They may be wintered in a
barrel or reservoir placed in the cellar.
The vessel which contains the water
should have several inches of mud III the
bottom. The fall is also III excellent time
in which to construct ~tish-ponds. The
ponds will be filled with water during the
late rains. If the water of q small spring
can be led into n pond it may be kept
sufficiently full even during the drought
of summer. An artificial pond is less
likely to be infested with creatures tina
will devour or %injure the young fish thar
a natural body of water. The principa
enemies of carp are turtles, water
snakes, minks, musk. rats, frogs and wate'
fowl.
The fish commissioner of Iowa make
the following suggestions respecting tn
construction of ponds: For a still-wate
wintering the pond, the deeper q portion
of it is the better, If there be plenty o
mud in the bottom of the ponds in whicl
the carp can bury itself during its perio'
of Information, or winter sleep, n dept
of five feet might answer and bring then
safety. But a greater depth would pleas
me much better. If spring water can b
run steadily into the ponds during TIL
winter the depth is of much less conse
q%uence. In draining ponds great car
should be taken to have it done slowly
so that the fish may not be too niue
frightened to gather in the deeper POI
tions. They are quite likely to bur
themselves in the mud of any part of tn
bottom when they take Il sudden alarm
and might be left there to smother an
die. The location and form of pond
should be such as to add to the beauty
the surroundings and to the c%onvenienc
and pleasure of the owners. They ma
} be needed to supply ice, or if stock b
kept they may be useful as a reservoir t
supply water. OF course these point
are to be settled by those who pla
them, and their great Importance shoul
not be overlooked. Carp can be kept an
fed, and made to grow rapidly in resel
voirs, tanks, small ponds, or other m
bodies of water during the summer Thu
I would not be safe from freezing durin
+ winter. And they are often so kept in tn
, OlU CouIlJTlcS. DJOCh isiiioi SuShaP Jul Pos
would have to be procured annually frol
= some carp-breeder.
Mr.. L. Jones, of Russell, Iowa, COZ
tributes to The Homestead the followin!
, | have had a little experience with Gel
t man carp that might be interesting t
some of your readers. 1t is as follows
l On the 10Th day of last April | placed i
a small pond, Is feet in diameter and
, foot deep, three German carp five inche
l long that had been wintered III the house
and were consequently in very poor col
, dition. The Oath day of August ] dre'
of'the water to see my little fish, an
found they we're twelve inches in length
5 and would weigh from a pound to a poun
and a half. Their principal food durin
!, the time they were in the pond was shea
oats. On the last day of April, 1883,
. procured from the United States tis
commissioner twenty small Germa
. leather carp, varying from an N and
} half to two inches and a half in length
These were placed in a pond of abou
one-fourth of an aero in extent and eigf
1 feet deep. They are as large now, if nc
T larger, than those in the smaller ponc
Think of it2 A growth of ten inches i
3 less than three months on a scant diet {
. sheaf oats. l have now commence
feeding them regularly on scraps frol
; the table, such as cold potatoes, boile
Y corn, baked beans, etc. When the scraI
are thrown into the water the fish tigf
over them like pigs. They will have tw
months yet to grow before winter, whe
they will push themselves among tn
II L
! dormant until spring. / believe in te
/ years every farmer will have his carl
pond to raise fish for his W table.