The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-02-09
STOCKING FISH PONDS.
Practical Suggestions by Prof. Jordan, Of
the Indiana University.
IndidndDolis Journal,

Indianapolis Journal.
have lately received numerous letters o!
inquiry In regard to the stocking of fish
ponds. The following remarks on this sub,
ject may therefore be of interest:
There are, in general, IN the United States
three sorts of dsh ponds, each of which may
briefly notice:
/. Ponds for Trout-Where the water of a
pond is very cold and very pure there is no
kind of fish more attractive and perhaps none
more profitable than brook trout There
are.in ris State, however, very few pords
where this sristocratic fish can be reared. 40
that need say here nothing further In re-
gard TO it.
?. Ponds for Game Fsh--lu any clear pond
or lake in this State ''gamey" or carniverous
fishes can be reared.
Ofthcse our native fishes are the best, the
white lass. the black bass, the croppe, the
yellow perch, the rock bass, ,and other species
of sunish and the different sorts Of small
catfish. The latter are not high game. The
haoy hO"pfCAs ilhlhS lOl hhCui ao
pond fishes, for they are good food, hardy and
prolific, and withaI morally certain not to
waste the fsherman's time, as they take the
hook with unfailng accuracy, and take it
for "keeps.' Such fish pond is especially
a boys pond, and the cat fish is pre- eminent.
ly boys fsh. To stock such pond there
Is nothing special to do but to free ii. if pos
sible, from grass, dogfsh, and pickerel, and
then to put in as many live fish as practics-
BILE Of the species desired, with minnows and
suck ers for food. Catfish will thrive In al
most any pond which does not dry up in
summer, bGL the bass and sunfish are more
particular.
3. Carp Ponds-For most ponds which
may be made in This State, no fish is so well
suited as the European carp. 1t bears the
same relation TO the native fishes that a hog
does TO our wild animals or the hen 10 our
native gamebirds. 1t is not so handsome OF
so delicate B the best of our native fishes
There is no excitement ia it's capture, but il
furnishes fOd for a hungry world. The
carp much resembles the buffalo fish in size
anu form; it has the same thick head, large
scales aud ttothless mouth. Its flesh is
however, much hrmer in quality, although
by no means equal I" that Of white Ssh OF
brook trout. The carp will thrive in almost
any water. II feeds oil vegetable substance,
frog spittle, water weeds, bread crumbs
bran, almost anything that pig or chicken
will eat. IL will take the hook sometimes
II moedded in a breai crumb, but so will &
hen under similar circumstances. Its groytl
Is very rapid under favorable conditions, ant
It is very prolific. IL is said to devoar its
own spawn when food is scarce, but, unlike
the caruiVarOus fishes, 1t rarely eats its swn
young. The ideal carp pond is clear, warm
weedy, deep in the middle, shallow along
the edges And free from other fish. A ponc
which can be drained at will is convenient
where fish are raised for the markets, as the
large fish can then be selected and the small
er oues left. IF the fish are caught Nth a
seine many small ones will be injured. How
to get carp: In the course Of few year:
carp will be as plentiful IN Indiana as ii
Germany, and every owner Of a pond vii
have carp to sell "fOr seed" For the pres
snt, however, the U. S. Fish COMMISSIONS
undertakes to supply few without charge
(except Tor expressase, etc.), TO any owner
of pond who may make application 70
them. A distribution TO this Stale tool
place last fall. Another will probably b.
made next summer. Those wishing earl
should write for application blanks to Prof
Spencer F. Baird, United States Commis
sioner of Fisheries, Washington. ID. G. Th
fish commissioner of this State, Hon. Calvin
Fletcher. of Spencer, is an enthusiast on tn
subject Of carp, aud has been very successful
In rearing them.