Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1888 — STOCKING FISH PONDS. [ARTICLE]

STOCKING FISH PONDS.

A Few Suggestions oh Fish Pfopaglgation. American Agriculturist-'^'' - ... Many inquiries are parties all over the United States -typing ponds varying in extent from ope-fourth oi an acre to an acre, and who desire- tp know what kind of fish should be used for stocking th <jm. This, from the 'mea-ger-descriptionsgenerally " gTven7laa difficult, matter to decide; butn few sim--pie hints such as I will here gjve will undoubtedly aid many in decidingpthis question for themselves. In all parts of the United States the waters are stocked by nature with the kind of fish best suited to their peculiarities, and if it is desired to stock the pond with any of the fish which abound in the local waters,’ you must observe what kind of bottom the particular fish you prefer lives on; ascertain the depth and temperature of water jn it is usually found, and alsoand where and when it cast&its spawn. A fter you have ascertained this it will matter to determine whether your water is provided with the natural characteristics suitable for the welfare of the fish. There is much of the above that those who are at all familiar with the waters of'their region would know, if they would only stop to. consider, without actually going to look. All anglers and lovers of the finny tribe, as a rule, have their favorite fish and it is not strange that they should be particularly desirous'of cultivating and caring for that variety of which they are most fond; but this is impossible unless the waters of their pond are similar to those'of the natural homes of the fish; and if they are not they must content themselves with the next best. As an illustration, we will take a small inland lake similar to thousands which are scattered about the country, Perhaps it is one having a length of one to three miles and a length of from five to seven, and perhaps in parts from seventy-five to one hundred feet deep. In this body of water we will find many different kinds of bottom, the character of which is usually indicated by the appearance of Hie shore. Extending along for a certain distance'we will find hard rocky bottom where the water is almost always clear. Here we will find the small-mouthed black bass, the rock bass and perhaps the pike-perch. We go on a little further an,d we see weeds show ing their heads above the water, and the bottom covered with them. Here we find the yellow perch and pickerel. We row along for say half or three-quarters of a mile further, and we come to a cove in which the waters look dark and muddy. In here we are almost sure to find the bull-head, and in toward the shore cat-tails and bull-rushes will be seen growing, close to the edges of which will many times be found the largemouthed black bass, also knowu as the Oswego bass. The pickerel are also at home in such jspots. Out in the deep water, where it is always pure cold, the lake or the salmon trout hold forth. I have used this illustration for the purpose of showing my readers what the” matural habitat of a few varieties of fish is, and what they must have in order to thrive! In addition to this they must be supplied with wn abundance of suitable food. Many will wish to stock their ponds with speckled trout. This can not be done unless-th'e pond is fed by a large quantity of pure spring water. The bottom is not such an important matter if the waters be pure - and cold the entire year, and for the best results it should be fed by a spring brook. There are very many ponds, in which only carp will thrive, and the character of these is muddy bottom, an abundance of aquatic plants, and a supply of water only sufficient so keep up with the natural evaporation. The warmer'jihe water the better the fisji like it and the faster they grow. As a rule it will not pay to attempt to stock fresh water" ponds with salt water fish. The water is not natural to them, and they Will not thrive.