The daily gazette., 1875-07-20
From the Baltimore Sun.
Fish Culture IN Maryland.
ARRIVAL OF CARP AND TENca FROM THE
DANUBE.

ARRIVAL OF CARP AND iENSh FhOM IN n
DANUBE.
Mr.. r. B. Ferguson, one of the COM
missioners of fisheries OF Maryland,
returned from New York, on Saturday
night, with the surviving fish of u lot
imported by Prof. Spencer +. Baird, OF
the Smithsonian Institute, Washington,
and United States commissioner OF
fisheries, in the North German Lloyds
steamship Donau, which arrived in
New York from Germany on Friday.
The fish, which arc nearly all fully
developed, were placed in the ponds
which had been prepared for them in
Druid Hill Park. They are from Hun
gary and Bavaria, and were taken
from the Danube, and were selected
and brought over to this country, un-
der the auspices of the United States
commission, by Mr.. Rudolph Hessel,
an eminent fish culturist of Offenburg,
Germany. Hr. Hessel started some
four weeks ago with about three hun
dred and fifty fish, but owing to the hot
weather during their transportation
through Germany, and the necessarily
limited space allowed them during
the twelve days of their journey in the
steamer Donau, only twenty six reach
ed New York alive. Notwithstanding
! Mr.. Hesscl's untiring care and attention
three more were lost before they could
be reshipped in New York. Tho re-
| manning twenty-three we're placed In
large tin cans, the water kept at uni
form temperature and aerated by Mr..
Mcsscl and Alexander Kent, who were
constantly in attendance watching
them like so many babies, and sue
cecded in keeping them in good condi-
tion until they were safely placed in
Druid Hill Park, about midnight on
Saturday.
The fishes have been imported to
domesticate fine favored and prolific
varieties which live in warm, still
water. Their introduction will be of
incalculable value to Maryland and the
more Southern States. Mr.. Furguson
has achieved for Maryland the triumph
of being the first to successfully import
80 valuable an addition to the fnny
tribes of America.
There are inferior species of carp In
Europe, but those of the Danube are
the best, being the cyprinus carpio,
variety alepidotus, which are without
scales, fine flavor, and spawn twice q
year. There are among those placed
in the ponds at Druid Hill Park one
female Of the variety specularis, which
| is smooth and attains great size. 1t Is
of brilliant bues and of excellent ia.
vor.
There are also three OF the common
1 a. . h. alA1a M
carp, will spawn in few days, and
Mr.. Ferguson expects MIR. Hassel to be
able to obtain large number of eggs,
| which will be hatched artificially in
the ponds, which, by the kindness OF
the park commissioners, Mr.. Ferguson
has had prepared near the "crows
nest" There are also twelve of the
common tench. This fish is of rapid
growth, good favor, and has the ca
lpacity of living in almost any character
of water, and will bury itself In tn,
mud, in case the pond should becon,
dry from drought, and remain alive fo
months untila friendly shower refill
the pond.
The other fish are golden tench, al
exceeding rare variety, OF as brillian
color as the ornamental golden fish
grows quickly to be fifteen to twent,
pounds ir weight, and the flesh is wei
favored.
Professor Hessel, after careful exam
ination of the water and arrangement
which are being perfected under tn,
, direction of Mr.. Ferguson, expresses
himself well satisfied of the entire sue
cess Of the enterprise. The fish will
present a new attraction to the park
Visitors, however, are cautioned to b.
judicious i'll their bestowal of favor
upon the new comers. A few crumb
thoughtlessly thrown Into their pond
would probably end their existence
Q Measures will be taken to secure th
i. fishes from molestation. MIR. Ferguso,
has one OF the carp, measuring oigt
teen inches and weighing four pound
which died in New York, preserved il
alcohol.