The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-09-09
THE CARP QUESTION.
ITS CULTIVATION is A SUCCESS,
VIII Eat Anything Hog Will-Come al
Call Like Pigs-Their Roaming ln-
stinct Escaping to the
Streams--Ponds Filled.

MCKINNEY, Sept, Especial. An
article in the HERALD of late issue, takes
the position that carp culture is afailure
in Texas. Your correspondent directed
the attention of prominent Collin county
gentlemen thereto and sends the HER
AID the result. j. Lee FARES who loves
agoOd Joke as well rs the good things of
life says, have been engaged in carp
culture since lSSl,when got two fish; AT
that time, had no tank but kept them
in q water, box for one year !
put them In my tank which |
made too weak and which lost
by my tank being washed away. In
the spring of 1883, | got thirty-two. |
put them In tank constructed by
throwing dam across Il ravine and dig
ging II out. then left the fish to raise
themselves. Occasionally | feed them
corn oats wheat, bread, in fact the fish
eat anything q hog will They will
spawn when raised here, at year old,
and under favorable circumstances will
then weigh from two and hall to three
pounds: are easily domesticated.
feeding in u cool place. The carp is u
beautiful fish, and rs TO odibility
II is tOothsome, no matter how cooked
but boiled, and then battered on a little
pepper, makes dish fit fora king. The
fish are getting In the streams and
creeks | suppose from some tanks
Washed away by heavy rains. / nu of
the opiuion That with ordinary care the
carp Is destined To prove cheap and
valuable article OF food.
Mr.. Francis Emerson, President Of
the First National bank, who has one of
the best managed farms in the county
atates that he has experimental with
the carp, and has no doubt it is protita
bic toraiso them. The greatest drawback
are depredatOrs fishing before ponds are
stocked. On this point he was en-
phatic In his belief that the Legislature
should pass laws protecting this indus
try. Mr. Emerson gives many instances
of successful fish raisors, but one trouble
is In constructing dams, They are not
made strong enough. DR.. G.. A. Footc,
who has resided In Texas for thirty
eight years and with whom one cannot
converse without being nm enthusiast on
this subject said: have been engaged in
raising carp about two years when | got
few small ones from tho department
Mt Washington. ! have eaten moro
fish than | placed in tho pond.
| should say the fish will spawn
at year old, and am confident that
this springs spawn will be of sufficient
size TO eat by the last of October, ! mean
anything over ten inches long be sutll-
cient size. caught one weighing eight
pounds from Capt. Rhea's tank. | don't
think they are quite so juicy and tooth.
some when they get over five pounds
| have indicated already that the carr
grows rapidly, say to twenty inches and
more In length in II year, but this, i'm n
measure, depends on how IL is fed
| feed mine once week. Anything
will answer, bread, bran, shorts. lettuce
turnlp greens, corn, oats, are all de-
voured with avldity. ! can call mne
up to the bank in minute. am salts
fled that last night when | called them
up | saw at least fifty good big fellows AT
the bank with half their back out of the
water | do not raise fish except for my
own use and to send ono occasionally
To my neighbOrs. | have made II per.
feet success and have not the slightest
doubt that 10 would be more profitable
than raising poultry The only care re.
quired Is TO get the fish and mako a pont
out OF which they cannot escape MS th,
carp is a born rambler and llourishe,
best In warm water.
Prof. William Allen says; have il
my tank twenty l-year old carp, | Il,
know they will grow for have meas
nred several ut II year old, aud fine
males measuring seventeen and female,
twenty-five Inches. | can further STATE
that derive great pleasure and instruc
ton in noting the habits, etc.. of Tia,
fish, which will probably not interest
HERALD readers.
Capt. w. A, Rea, In response. You
can say for mo that have thousands IL
my tank, and have caught Thorn weigh
ing 0and 10 pounds. | know tho carp, (
let alone and kept In water, will thrive
The fish does not feed on the spawn
.srows and propagatos rapidly, and, il
fact, the carp Is without doubt u sue
cess. The scale carp IL better than any
other kind.
Numerous other gentlemen arc ON
gagged and other instances might b,
cited, but all of the above named gentle
men are woll-known to nearly over,
citizen of the county. II might h
added that 80 far ~ your correspondent
can learn, those who have given IL nj
tentl0n have been pleased and think tn
carp just what IL needed, There ar
some who have constructed wen
dam or permitted crawfish to inlur,
but they have the sense to blame them
selves.
II might be further added that ncarl
every ono OF these spoke In terms
praise of DIR. Baird, 20 whom they ha
applied for advice and information,