Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-15
PRoFAGAT1NG THE CARP.
fish Culture az the Washington
Arsenal.

VOTING CARP WHICH RgSroSp 10 A WHISTLE
AND Eat FROM THE HAND
most interesting incident growing out OF
Prof. Bairds system OF nSh culture Is an eN-
pertinent now In successful progress under the
personal supervision or Mr.. Elliott Jones. chief
clerk OF the L. : arsenal in this city OF prop
agating the carp In the early part OF ISIS the
commandant OF this post conceived the project
ol eNcaNaltng. within the enclosure. in low
ana naturally marshy place on the eastern SIDE.
near the James Creek canal. for an ice pond:
me purpose being 20 save ice for the use Of the
OFFICERS quarters and employees OF the ward.
for some cause the project was abandoned
ana tne THOUGHT occurred u Mt. Jones to
Utilize This pond for the culture OF caro-
II was about this time that Irof Ratri OF the
smithsonian Institute. received direct from
austria number Of fish OF this kind and tue
SITUATION or this lake and surrounding condI-
tons were so favorable tnai Mr. Jones called
upon lrof. Band. 10 whom he made known his
plans with the request that he be permitted
TIE Use az some OF tie imported fish SATISFY
log himself as 10 the adaptahllity OF the pond
for the purpose, Prof. Baird not only very
readily aSsented 10 The request, but gave Mr..
Jones much useful Information aS 10 the habits
OF the carp, aid advice in the management oG
them.
TIE r.ND
: tao feet in depth. Ted througl = SmaW Moe
pEntC'Fd with n = water main which sunpl,,S
the workshops aud other buildings Is SIC 1.
htt'e oxcr an acre, and In form an oblOgg
square The small stream constantly running
INTO the lake Is just about Sufficient 10 suuply
Tue waste nom eyalo alton and al the same
time prevents stagnatiuu. The hanks are Gle
Naica about tSO feet above the surra-c OF the
waiCf, the earJb eXcavated. being NJ tied .o-
the purpose and gracefully mounded and tdrGci
over. An outlet was also constructed on the
cast side communicating with the James CrceK
canal. through witch The water is drained or
twice year in order - cleanse the pond NJ any
Objectionable debris. but more with the view OF
Kidding IL or catfish. eels and other fish
which enter through this small supply pine,
anu soon become troublesome nusanceS % the
carp, especially when young. The numcer 90
tatned from Prof. E..ird at first was e.. which
were put In this pond in MAY. ISIS. but I'm a
SNORT tlme afterwards over half or this number
were returned, TO be placed in the pools pre-
pared for them in tho Monument LOT. The ave-
rage weight of these carp was befwC 1en I aad
ounces, when put in MIR. Jones pond. and
Whel lahen out last fall, their weight ran fiOm
2to pounds each
TAME FISH.
The young carp Matched last May. one year
ago. ana now In line growing condition. were
cut and delivered TO Prof. Baird who now has
most OF them In his experimental pools. and the
remaining 2,onn are the ones now ia Mr.. Jones'
pool They now YalS In weight ana size. being
iron four 10 seven inches in length, and AS tame
as any domestic animal or foHl found abou the
habitation OF man. Ia this particular they
differ from any other OF the fiSh family.
CARP WHICH COME At A WHISTLE AND EAT FROM
THE HAND.
Yesterday a STAR man was lucky enough 10
be present ana Witnessed the feeding 10y Mr.
Jones OF his aquatic family. Taking VITA him
stale loaf OF bread, few minutes walk
bought him 10 the margin OF the pond wheIs a
vide plank extended over the water. foot or
more above II. resting one END on the bank aud
| the other made fast Ia an upright in The pond.
Walking on this plank IN a STOPPING posture Mr..
Jones gave whistle moderately loud IN tone
| similar TO dog call aud in a moment the water
around him was alive with the playful little
| carp, all eager for the bread which he broke OF
In pieces The SIZE OF an egg partly iInmersing a.
| in the water but still retaining 1t In his hand
| The fish would fairly crowd each other ID get
holdof the bread, hundreds of them tumbling over
| each other 10 crowd around h'm and would a.
! low the mSelyeS 10 be handled and taken out OF
/ the water, seeming rather TO Ike the notice
| taken OF them. Mr. Jones feeds them with
| bread or any soft vegetables, sucn as lettuce or
| asparagus, regularly once day, and enjoys the
| society OF his marine friends much. They are
| soft TO the touch and appear TO IKE being
petted, and Will eat from the hand as readily as
| tame chicken or kitten. AS a food fish they
| are excellent and highly valued. the meat I'm
| season being Whlte. firm and OF superior flavor.
| HINT TO FARMERS
| They can bc easily cultivated by farmers or
| others who have the room, and the fsh can BE-
| taken cut OF water when wanted without hook
f, aud line or other device. They are almost IN
| capable or taken care OF themselves while
| young. and therefore become an easy prey 10
the more yoracious hsh. Ii is for this reason
| that they flourish best in ponds or sluggish
! streams where the water is quiet and there are
| 10 game fish TO modest them. In the winter
| they collect in large schools on the muddy bot
| toms OF The lakes and thrusting their heads
| deep into the mud with their tails erect, they
pass tie winter months without feeding, andi
| a dormant rendition. coming out bright an
| early III the warm spring time.
THE CARP DESCRIBED.
| Tie carp Is malac9ptefygiaa rsa OF The
| family cyprinidae. The body covered with la~ge
! bright scales a single elongated dJrsat Tin,
fltShy and soft lips, small mouth shaped similar
| TO the mouth OF a mulrt. with a blrbel az the
| upper part OF each corner and 4 smaller one
above; teeth 10 the pharynN, but none IN the
jaws, branchial rays three, the yentrals belild
| the pCctoralS without any come cUi0n with the
tones OF the scapular arch: The second dorsal
ray az the fist serratod postcIiolIly, the tail
| foTk6d with twelve rows OF scales between the
| Tentral apd dorsal fins. The color or the
| hack is or an olive brown, sides white
| with yeilowish tinge beneath. IL Is
native OF central aud southern Europe
| where ii inhabitS fresh water lakes ard quiet
| stre9ms. Its growth Is rapid, and IL lives 10
| considerable age. They prefer quiet waters with
| is in May or June, duIing which time
| they are In poor condition for food 1iSh.
| They SuDolSt On larvae of AQUATIC insects
| worms, and solt plants, though they eat almost
eDy vegetable food in artificial ponds. They are
| very tenS ciouS OF fe and VIII live long periods
out OF water If kept moist or packed ia wet ,aoss
| Theft usual size varies from six 60 thirty
| inches, and their weight from one to eighteen
| pounds, but instances have been known where
| their weight reached TO sixty or seventy pounds.
| AS a food fish they are In season from october
| 10 quite cold weather. Its fecundtty. under
favorable circumstances Is said TO be prOdiyiouS.
| over 100000 eggs having been found 1.-THE ova-
| rieS or a single fish OF moderate size. BY the
| HDTler il IS lot considered OF much value, not
being game fish, but. Oh the contrary, OF rather
| tame ana domestic habits.