The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-05-12
GERMAN CARP PONDS,
FOR PLEASURE AND FOR PROFIT.
Carp. az Compared witAs the Cul-
t,sre or Other Farm, Produce.

A late number of the Southern Cultivator is
at hand, and in looking through It's columns
came upon an article on the subject of carp
Ponds, written by my friend and acquainl-
ance. Mr.. W. S. r., Of Hudson, Ohio. OF
course this would suggest the idea of sending
something In the same line (the culture OF
this fish being one OF my hobbleS), as do not
think this new branch Of industry Is recciv.
ing the attention it deserves; nor arc the pao-
pie aware OF the great possibilities within the
pale of carp cu tGre, or no one having the
topography and water would be without q
pOnd, and indeed but little water Is needed
with Il properly constructed pond. do not
speak us q theUrst, but as practical man,
and consequently know whereof speak rel
ativc to this comi ing new food factor whose
culture will be Il kind OF eSthetic labor or a
blending of labor and amusement, and will,
if it has not already, become u pleasant d.
verSlty to the m0nOteny of farm lie by af.
iOrtling q larger, or rather opening q new, av-
enuc for amusement of u rural nature for the
Juvenile clement in way Of fishing, boating,
etc. in summer and skating In winter.
IL is said that since the lntrodurtion for the
millions, through the agency of the U. $. Fish
Commission, there are about 26.OOO carp ponds
in this country, and the wonder to me is that
more is not heard from their owners. This is
a new industry here ana the carp u peculiar
fish; q knowledge OF their wants and habits
is as essential TO success as are the wants and
habits OF any other domestic creatures we cul-
tivate.
After many years experience with this
fish, am more and more Impressed with the
great possibilities attainable in its culture
when The wants Of its nature are complied
with, such as temperature, IOcd, etc. 1t does
appear to me that nature has done nearly ev-
erything except catch and cook for the use OF
man.
l am in receipt of letters from such States
as Tennessee and North Carolina, in which
it is claimed that carp Of ten pounds weight
have been produced when only two years
old Strange as this may appear to those ur-
oi , ,tf,1 U-itI, ~ nf
unattanable us such a result would be here at
the North, yet when it IS known that the
carp neither eats nor grows through or IN the
cool and cold season, as do many other crel-
lures, both aquatic and land animals, yet in
the few warm and hot months (not One-hall
of the year)in which it does grow here in the
latitude OF Pennsylvania. Ohio and the more
North western States, 1t attains, under favor
able conditions, quite one-balf that weight In
the same length of time, while in the more
Southern attitudes it grows continuously the
year round.
That all who try carp culture will succeed is
not to be expected, as carp do not flourish eX-
ccpt where their natural wants are complied
with; and from the very fact that they are
the antipodes of the salmon family in every
particular; Il knowledge Of the habits OF the
former fish rather miSleadS than aids In the
treatment of the carp.
The carp is handsome fish and in form
something between that Of Il bass and Shad,
the head bearing II better proportion to the
DOuy llltlll clLlleI3 lHc SVflIS ID
small, the flesh equal to that of the shad and
much resembling it in texture, and Is not
more bony, being entirely free from that
bunch bone so objectionable In many OF the
sucker family.
From experimental data of my own I feel
certain that. after the expense OF construct
ing the pond, pound for pound carp can be
produced cheaper than pigs or poultry, and
with this addition in their favor, that they
make no demands in winter for either shell
ter, care or food, all they require being water
OF sufficient depth to be free from the frost
and ice, where they lie in a stupor In puddlcs,
their lives being in II state OF abcyance until
the warmth Of spring revi'aliZcS them, when
they seek the grassy shadows to deposit their
spawn. which ha.cheS in the sun in from
eight to ten days. contingent on the degree Of
temperature. advise all farmers who have
even poor facilities for growing this fish to
get Il fpw-say fifty o" hundred small! ones
and give them chaucr, and they will soon
SHOW their own mute argument for sue cess
Carp ponds are both profitable ana Orna-
mental, and grow more beautiful and useful
from age, and should adOrn and protit every
farm or suburban residence. The carp, un-
like the salmon, il saltwater fish, rather
avoiding than seeking current, ANA conse-
qucntiy no waste or outlet water is absolute
ly necessary. l have known them to multi
ply and increase in ponds that had not Il
Supply-Stream to keep them full,
but on tic contrary was NJ much lower
stage ut the end of the summer than Mt the
beginning; yet, while | do not prefer such
ponds, in cases where none better can be had,
carp culture need not be ignored.
Pittsburg, Penn. G. F.