Max Kreuzwendedich von dem Borne (1826-1894) started a fish farm in Berneuchen. He built a stately Bruthaus with 17 basins, laid ponds, constructed apparatus, and experimented with any species of fish that he could get hold of. The family operated a stone bakery in Bornhofen near Berneuchen, which produced weather-resistant “water clinker” In addition, plumbers from the neighborhood produced fishbrush appliances, which found customers around the world. To his fortune, the river Mietzel roamed the Berneuchen estate for 10 kilometers. He occupied 48 ponds with a total area of 240 acres with fish. To the plant were also five lakes, in which its little fish thrived brightly. A photo of one of these lakes can be seen at the opening page of this website.
He bred fish for the German fishing industry: tench, carp, salmon, snapper, pike-perch. He also bred pond and aquarium fish. He had a special predilection for Americans fish such as trout, sunfish, rainbow trout and dogfish.
He published a lot about fishing. In a quick succession, he wrote over 20 books and brochures. In 1875 his “Illustrated Manual of Fishing” appeared, 380 pages thick with 195 illustrations. In 1882 he wrote the “Taschenbuch der Angelfischerei”.
Berneuchen was soon recognized world-wide as a fish-farming and pond-industry. Visitors from all over the world, especially from England, China and Japan, who wanted to get to know the Berneuchen pond industry and its founder, were not unfamiliar guests. Max von dem Borne owes this international reputation as a pond-owner, fishery expert and sport-fisherman, among other things, to his widespread books, in which he had laid down the experiences he had made and the results of his scientific observations.
Literature
1. Fish und fang. Vergessener held.
2. Elisabeth von Viehahn, Berneuchen und Seine Herren
