NEW IDEAS FOR THE OLD FARM POND

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Gizzard shad(Dorosoma cepedianum): This small, herringlike fish will thrive in farm ponds and, because it's a phytoplankton feeder, will profit from fertile, slightly "green" water.

Mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis): This tiny fish (its maximum length is two inches) makes good forage, and — as its name implies — it's also useful in controlling mosquitoes. This species is best able to sustain its population in ponds in which channel catfish are the principal predators, most likely because mosquito fish like to occupy the tiny spaces in weeds and brush where the catfish seldom venture.

Suckers: The family Catostomidae may be the "sleeper" among the North American farm pond fishes. As far back as 1966, the lake chubsucker— Erimyzon sucetta — was recommended as forage for bass (it's also one of the few fishes that will control filamentous algae) . . . and the black-tail red-horse (Moxostoma poecilurum) has been shown to improve the production of channel catfish. Both of these species attain sizes large enough to qualify them as panfish, so they can be considered as substitutes for the bluegill, as well.

FARM POND UNSUITABLES

Although this article can cover only a smattering of the fish that might be raised in the farm pond, you can assume that those species not mentioned here simply have not been thoroughly tested and thus—at this time—aren't recommended. In addition, the eight fish listed below—while attractive for some aquaculture purposes—are not suitable for generalfarm pond use.

Trout: The ever-popular trout is a deservedly favorite food and sport fish, but it is a cold-water fish and thus is out of place in the warm-water environment of the farm pond.

Carp: The common carp (Cyprinuscarpio ) is one of the best fishes for intensive culture, but it's ill-suited for the small, extensive system of the farm pond. Because this species obtains most of its food from the pond bottom, the piglike rooting behavior of the large carp will cause undesirable turbidity in small bodies of water stocked with visual feeders such as bass and bluegills.

Goldfish(Carassius auratus): Although some homestead aquaculturists stock goldfish for their beauty and their use as forage fish, this species—like the carp—causes turbidity in the water and is therefore not recommended.

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