Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-03
II GRAND AQUARI4L GARDEN.
THE, GOVERNMENT FISH PONDS.
Important Work Of the Fish Com.
mission.


mission.
Laborers are now converting Rips Island,
in one of the Babcock lakes, at the foot OF che
stub of the Washington monument, Into a
congeries Of reservoirs, tanks and breeding
ponds, in which the carp, imported by the fish
commission, will be kept while spawning. The
adults will then be returned to the lake, or
other large bodies OF water, and the young will
be kept carefully until they have attained q
sufficient growth for distribution. 1t is ex-
pected that by the coming autumn many thou
sands Of the fish win be furnished to appl-
cantS. 1t is somewhat strange that so little
has been done heretofore to introduce
THE VALUABLE GERMAN CARP
| into this country. The infer1ority of several
native species Of fish called carp and of the
by brid species of France and England has per-
haps caused the true carp to be undervalued.
chin and ike dsner Valuable g that as tn
nation bestowed upon Europe was introduced
into Germany and the neighbor1ng countries
has always been to the highest degree D. success. ]
full: Ponds stocked with the fish are rented at
high prices. Its flesh is much esteemed as
food and readily brings mark iabOut "a cents)
per pound In the German market.
AN especial merit OF the fish consists In the
readiness with which 1t is domesticated, and its
adaptation to limited waters In China it is
mest1c animal, tenacious of life, easily cared
for, and assuring profitable returns. 1t is OF
prodig1ous fecundity, lives, If undisturbed, to a
good age, and may be fattened like pigs to a
great weight in short time. Like other do
mestic animals, it is vegetable FEEDER It
lives naturally on roots Of various water plants,
bage leaves, lettuce, and other refuse Of kitchen
gardens. It is especially adapted to sluggish
waters with muddy bottom. Its growth,
IS s to ans engh Sy
inclemency OF the winter weather. In the
south, where no Ice Is formed, it could grow the
year round. 1t beats chickens, turkeys and
other denizens of the barn-yard all hollow as a
profitable domestic animal.
CARP COLONIES TO BE ESTABLISHED.
TIE fish commission hope to have in a few
years thousands of carp colonies planted In all
parts of the country. 1t is confidently believed
that the value Of the fish will be speedily rec
s 9gnlzed: l.. There viii be seven or eight ponds on
carp, which the cultivation of the fish has de-
yeloped, viii spawn in a separate pond The
leather carp, which is the finest variety, does
Lot belong to the Scaly set to which the native
fish is assigned, but is as smooth and soft to the
touch as kid glove. In the next best variety,
the mirror carp, the large scales have not dis ap-
carp, there being at least one line along the
middle OF the body completely scaled. Then
comes the scaly, qnimproved carp, an excellent
fraternize with the gold fish or the Prussian
carp: The hybrids produced by this neglect
ao,+n,e,. o. the laws Of caste by the carp are
carp are much like the gold fish In shape De
and general appearance but are distinguished
by four aristocratic little boards (oarbels) at
the corners OF the mouth. 1t is only in Ger
many, Austria, Bohemia and Hungary that the
three varieties are found In perfection, those
OF France and England being as a general rule
bybrids,
FISH QUESTION
The Introduction Of carp into the United
States Is considered matter Of sufficient i'm
portance to cause dispute among the claim
ants OF priority In this respect. Mr.. Pell, OF
New burg on-Hudson, claims the credit. There
the fish he had in his possession were either
uncolored gold fish or the hyDrids of the latter
with the Prussian carp. Hudson river abounds
with what are called carp, the consequence, it
Pells pond. These fish are not unfreauentIy
sent to the New York market and sold In bar
h res at varying prices. A careful examination,
cover anything like the true caro- the lack of sf-
ncient development OF barbels about the mouth
Deing the strongest proof against them. A
admitted, after examination, that his fish do
not possess the proper characteristics. The
most positive testimony would seem to point to
import the genuine fish by bringing over about
half dozen q few years ago. These were
planted In ponds, have multiplied rapidly, and
Sonsaiute co @ very profitable article OF trade as
splte OF the enormous multiplication of his
stock is unable to meet the demand.
TO THE FISH COMMISSION
the introduction OF the new and finer varieties
must be credited. Three attempts to transport
specimens OF this fish were unsuccessful owing
the Geaged n the sns1 %1
Kudolph Hessel, the superintendent OF the U.
g ponds, succeeded IN bringing over supply.
About About one hundred OF the di1erent breeds were
suitable quarters could be prepared for them in
Washington. The Babcock lakes were selected
as adapted to the purpose, and they and the ad-
and an appropriation provided to put them In
order. In the spring OF 1878 the ponds were
ready Tor the reception OF the FISH, and one-half
divide the venture 10 case anything should s hap hap
pen to the fish In either city. In 1877 the waters
OF the Potomac rose and stood several feet deep
there would have been washed into the Poto. SHn
mac. AS these floods do not occur more than
@ once In ten % or twelve years, there is reason to
through the United States will be made before
the next one occurs, that the damage viii NOT
be ilremed1able van oo
TIE ISLAND IN THE CARP PONDS.
AS the main ponds for the carp and the island
enclosed constitute part of the public grounds
and will form a striking feature of the land
Nymphaa, Nelumbrum, Rumex, Arundo and
C'nSi o4uaolC plduGS nave OecQ con-
tributed by the Botanical gardens at
Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Agricul-
turai department. and Others. Their gifts
will be displayed to advantage, and win, doubt
less, be appreciated by Washingtonians during
the coming summer. 1t is reasonable to sup
pose that this spot will become one of the most
attractive portions OF the public grounds. on
the island, which is reached by a rustic bridge,
there will be other objects Of interest besides
the spawning grounds, which it may be men,
toned are planted In beds with Festuca, an
aquatic plant to which the eggs Of the carp viii
adhere.
TURTLE POND.
one pond is devoted to the rearing and exht-
ZION OF turtles, with a view to testing how far
the c, cultivation Of these highly priced animals
can De prosecuted While the fish in the larger
ponds are for the most part Invisible, this Au5ia
RAJ Garden Will contain several tanks or reser.
Volts IN which the finer varieties can be seen
without difficulty. Besides the carp there are
several other interesting fish to which the com
mission VIII assign water lots.
THE TENCH AND OTHER FISH.
Among them is the tench, well known Brit
1sh fish, adapted to muddy, boggy water, which