Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-02-02
MODEL FISH PONDS, &C.

Correspondence Of the Alexandria GAZETTE.
WATERFORD, Va, February l.-Situated
about three miles from here, Ola the road to
Ciark's Gap, and near that place, is the
farm Of Capt. r. NJ. c. Paxon. The Captain
is a bachelor and be and his sister comprise
the white members of the family.
Some three years ago Capt. Paxon built
himself fish Pond, putting considerable
expense upon it, and it has been considered
the model pond Of the county. He soon
procured some young carp to stock his
pond, and put in it, from time to time, about
ore hundred small ones. Becoming i'm
pressed with the idea that carp farming
would pay, he read and correspondent, until
what he knows about carp culture would
fill book.
He soon built himselfa pond for breeding
purposes, and last summer he completed
another large pond, and during the coming
season intends TO add still another. These
ponds are the result Of conclusions arrived
at by systematic reasoning. He claims
that no stock raiser or breeder would put
make raising fish profitable the old and
market kept where they can be taken with
out disturbing or interfering with the
younger or stock fish. This is a practical
idea and we hope the future has in store for
our friend generous return for his thought
and labor in developing this industry.
We were present last fall by invitation, at
the taking Of the fish from the old pond and
distributing them in the others according to
age. The three-yegr old fish, about 100, were
put 10 the breeding pond, while the smaller
ones, those that could be caught, numbering
several hundred, were put in the new pond.
Of course there were great many small
ones left in the old pond. These fish are
ready for market when three-years old, and
weigh ut that age from three to six pounds.
One thing Captain Paxon's experiments
have proved beyond doubt and that is that
these fish spawn at two years old. All his
nformation-and it was from fish men,
officials, and others-led him to believe
there would be no increase until his stock
fish reached their third year, and yet last
fall he found hundreds of small ones, while
his stock fish had not reached their third
year.
1t will be another twelve months before
Captain p. can begin to realize anything
from this venture, but be is just the man to
push it to successful issue, and his ponds
and his fish are his pride, and having no
family cares he devotes his time to them.
We sincerely hope the future profits will
amply repay the outlay and that the Cap
tain's declining years may be gladdened by
the satisfactory demonstration of his pet
theory that carp culture will pay, and then
we can excuse him if in his exutation he
calls himself the pioneer in fish culture in
Loudoun.
One Of the best things out here is on one
Of our county merchants. He was selling a
lady bottle of patent medicine on the
wrapper Of which was the smiling portrait
of the proprietor. The lady asked if it was
genuine; when, adjusting his glasses, he
took the bottle and holding it up read tri-
None genuine without the
face smile there it is, madame; don't you
see the face smile?" exhibiting the picture
and proceeding to wrap up the bottle amid
the suppressed litter of the bystanders. He
had innocently mistaken fac simie for face
smile. JABEE