The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-10
HOME CROWN FISH.
Frank Bridgman Tells How He Raises
Them I'm a Pond.

L. l.. Dyche, state fish and game
warden, is receiving numerous COM
munications on the question or the
propagation Of fish in artificial ponds
in this state. The reason for the iu-
creased interest in the subject at this
Tune is that a number OF Lawrence
nshermen who we're peeved because
Professor Dyche denied them the
privilege OF pulling great catches
fsh out of the Kaw, have been trying
10 convince the people that there isn't
anything to the pond proposition.
I have been receiving letters" said
Professor Dyche. from persons who
have been highly successful in Dropa-
gazing nsh in Kansas ponds. and the
interest manifested by farmers in
stocking ponds with fish was never
greater have had hundreds OF calls
Tor fish which have not been able TO
MI. However, when the new facilities
at the state hatcheries make it possible
70 keep the special hsh car on the
move all the time, It VIII be possible
TO stock every pond once a year"
An Interesting Letter.
me following letter written to Pro-
lessor Dyche By Frank Bridgeman
tells how a successful fish pond may
be maintained
7 am very much interested in the
subject, for have had three different
fish ponds in the last twenty years.
and I desire to say that I have had
fine success with them.
Il have a pond now that IS 5Ox2s0
feet, and which is from 10 5 feet deep
in depth The shallow water is used
by the young fish where they feed
and where / frequently feed them. I
have a netting or wire screen fence
that extends across the pond and di-
vides it so that the young fish can go
through into the shallow water, where
they get their food. I put bran, meal
or fine chop and ship Ga mill product,
better than bran) in very coarse bur-
lap sacks and place them in the wa
ter where the little fish can come by
hundreds and suck or work out this
fed.
Food sufficient for only about "a
hours should be placed in the water:
il left for a very much longer time it
viii sour. When the fish get larger.
later in the season, / feed them corn
chop and sometimes bread scraps from
the table. The fish are very fond OF
most any kind OF bread. but IL Is rath-
er expensive food and do not advise
feeding IL to them TO any great extent
In the fall of the year I remove the
wire screen fence and feed the fish.
for the most part, on cracked corn
Fish I'm Variety.
'In this pond ] have channel cat
fish, river cats, bullhead cats and Ger
man carp 1t viii be four years next
fall since my last pond was stocked
have channel cat that weigh pounds
river cat fish that weigh 4 pounds.
bullhead cat fish that weigh = to =
pounds, and carp that weigh pounds
There arc also plenty Of young fish IN
the pond, enough 70 stock 20 or more
ponds like the one I have already
described.
Il have a large box in the pond in
which I keep live fish. I catch what
fish 1 want to last for one or two
weeks and place them in this box, and
feed them. This enables US to have
fresh fish whenever we want them,
and I must say that the corn fed cat
fish are fine. They get very Fat ana
it is not as much trouble TO raise fish
Of this kind as IL is to raise hogs.
we have a cement wall around this
pond, which is two feet deep, I 8 inches
in the ground and inches above the
ground. This wall keeps all polluted
surface water out OF the pond. The
pond is supplied with water by wind
mill. / do not allow ducks or geese
on the pond during the spring and
summer, as at that time they interfere
with the spawning fish and with the
young fish
Il am very much interested in this
fish culture business for farmers. A
good many people come out to see
this pond. and learn how IL is man
aged. If anyone who IS interested will
come out this spring or summer 7 can
show them thousands OF young fish.
also young cat fish and young carp.
and may be able to give them some
pointers concerning how TO make a
small pond and how TO manage II 80
that they can have fish for table use"