Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1910-12-28
FARMERS TO RAISE FISH.
State Game Warden Urges Fish
Raising by Farmers Because
of Food Value.

State Fish and Game WardeI
George A. Lincoln is of the opinion
that the raising of fish by farmer:
and others should be fostered be
cause of their value as food. HI
states that questions are asked O.
the department daily regarding the
cultivation of fish; the size the
ponds should be, the best kind O.
fish to raise in ponds ands how tC
care for them.
For the benefit of those who are
disposed to make trial, it may be
stated with perfect fairness thai
food fishes can be raised with nc
more difficulty than chickens OF
vegetables" says Mr.. Lincoln. "A
neglected fish pond may be compar.
ed to a neglected garden and will
eventually reach the same gone-to-
seed condition. A pond of an acre
or more in extent and with eight
or ten feet of water in the deepest
part will, if property managed, give
excellent results.
1t may be necessary to make the
pond less than one-quarter of an
acre in extent, but a small pond
should have an extreme depth OF
not less than six feet, although 1t
is quite possible with a strong water
supply to raise fishes in very small
and shallow pond. This, however,
means active cultivation with daily
feeding.
Fish ponds should be supplied
with suitable spawning conditions.
Small mouth black bass, which make
their nest in gravel, will require a
gravel bottom. Large mouth black
bass, which nest among the roots
and plants will find the condition
plants and weeds of the pond. yell
low perch, which spawn among twigs
under water, are easily accommodate
ed. Pieces of brush may be set
firmly in the bottom where the wa
ter is shallow, in the branches of
which they will deposit their spawn.
Rock bass and the various species
of sunfish, which, like the small
mouth bass make their nests in gra-
vel places, will absolutely require
places of that character if they are
expected to increase and few loads
of gravel placed in the pond in wa
ter about two feet in depth will fur
nish the necessary conditions.
In stocking waters it is not neces-
sary to have large number of
adult fishes. For a pond of about
an acre in extent twenty pairs of
black bass will be sufficient, and
perhaps fifty pairs of the other
kinds mentioned. In fact, these
numbers will suffice for still larger
ponds. When the conditions are
right the progeny of the first year
will usually stock the pond to the
limit of it's natural food supply.
Heavy stocking serves no useful pur-
pose unless 1t is the intention to
c. tch some of the adults the first
year. 1t is just as well to stock with
two or three kinds Of fishes and time
will show which species are the best
adapted to that particular body of
water.
The large mouth black bass is one
Of the best fishes for ponds. It
grows larger and faster than the
small mouth and will take the hook
in winter when the others will not.
1t is easier to cultivate and will
thrive in warmer and more sluggish
waters. While not so gamey it can
be depended upon under ordinary
favorable conditions to furnish a
good supply of fish for the table.
There are however, a number of
some species which are suitable for
ponds, such as rock bass, calico bass,
yellow perch, white perch, long ear
ed and blue gilled sunfish, catfish,
crappies, etc. All of these increase
rapidly, take the hook readily, are
good food and probably will multi
ply in favorable waters with less
care than any other native fish.
1t is mistake to suppose that
fishes do not require an abundance
of food. They may live without il
but cannot grow. The principal food
of fishes is fish which should be per-
fectly fresh. For young fish it must
be cut and boned, then rubbed
through fine wire screen. If fresh
meat and liver are fed it must be
prepared in the same way.
About one-fourth of the ordin-
airy fish pond should be shallow and
planted with pond weeds which are
necessary to shelter the young fishes
and greatly increase the various
forms of small aquatic life necessary
for their food. They may be plant
ed by tieing them to Stone and drop
ping them into the pond or set into
the ground after the water has been
partially lowered. The greater
depth, from one to three feet may
be planted to water lilies, while the
deeper portions should be kept clear.
If the pond weeds, together with the
brook minnows, frogs, crustaceans
and other small fry which are to
constitute the natural supply of
food, can be introduced a year be-
fore the stock fish are put in, the
conditions for success will be great
ly improved.