The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-09-10
CAPE COP EEL FARMING.


CAPE COD EEL FARMING.
stocking Frssh-wster Pond sueesssfally
with Saltwater Fish.
Do you remember last summer let
er wrote about eel-farming? It seems
he article attracted some attention b.
:ause of the queer industry it described.
snd so this season. at the request Of tho
,ditor, visited this place again and am
prepared to report. Perhaps you may
not remember that I then stated that
wo gentlemen On Cape Cod had pur-
chased a fresh-water pond Of several
acres and stocked il with saltwater eels.
This fish, unlike most others, is rs much
at home in fresh-water As salt; IN fact,
you will always find them in fall and
winter in all fresh-water creeks that
have q connection with the ocean in any
way. A. that time and since these gem
tlemen have put into the ponds sixty
barrels of eels. Now barrel viii av-
erage to hold $500 fish, SO We may
safely count that at the present time
there arc no less than 10000 eels in
the pond, which have grown to double,
yes. quadruple, their size since they
were put in
The flesh Of an eel grown in fresh
water. contrary to the opinion of those
who have only eaten them grown in
their native waters, is very pleasant and
agreeable, and why should it not be,
when we consider that all fresh water
fish are peculiarly delicious eating?
The prejudice which you find on the sea
coast is not shared away from it, and
dealers who have purchased these fish
have been eager to have fresh supplies,
which speaks for itself and for fish.
There is a comis:al part to the story
after all. Last fall, when the demands
for eels began, the owners started for
their mine. prepared to bring forth the
treasure, when 10 and behold! not an
eel was to be found. Some said they
had gone to warmer climates for the
winter; some that they had found an
outlet to the ocean, and it was goOd-by
eels.
Bakers folly became a standard joke.
"a prophet is not without honor save
in his own country" This proverb, SO
old and yet so true, was true here.
Common sense taught the owners
that the fish were safely housed in the
mud for the winter, and while regret
ting years profit lost they did not
give up. said profit lost: l should
have said put in the bank-mud bank.
When spring came and the warm
weather thawed them out they came
forth in thousands; huge balls Of living
eels rolled out of the mud as big rs q
bucket, twined in and out like-well,
like nothing else on earth or under the
earth. and when they were fed the water
was fairly alive with these squirming.
snake-like creatures Some idea of il
may be had by knowing that for meal
ton of fOod-what is called on the
Cape ''hOrse feet''-was thrown into
the pond That was at night; the next
day not particle of food was left; every
shell was cleaned as nicely as you could
do it with care and patience. Now don't
those fish weigh ton more?
To feed this enormous aquarium ten
men are employed with two Fighters"
gathering horse feet. bringing from
1900 to 5000 at . load. A large pound
or Enclosure already holds 10000. and
this number win be increased to SO, 900.
In July the owners will begin to take
them ont and send them to market, and
if they do not meet with lively de-
mand shall be much surprised.
1t is . rare sight to see this army of fish
fed When the food is thrown into the pool
you will see them coming in all direc-
tons and in such numbers that the va.
ter fairly boils with them. They seem
to be aware that the time has arrived
for dinner. and by some sort of intelli
gence they come from the furthermost
points of the pond. The men who pre-.
pare the food frequently find themselves
standing several feet deep in q mass Of
squirming fish. 1 think may safely
say that nothing like it was ever known
before, and the financial result will de-
termine whether or not there will ever
be known any thing like it again. ]
am not ready to offer any opinion on
that point; will leave it for time to de-
eide; but still can't refrain from. saying:
with Colonel Seller, There's millions
ltr' more or less.
Twill leave you to take your choice
what refer to-do!lars or eels.-C0ps
Cod Item.