The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-01-07
THE FEORIDI AGRfCTITURIST.

eighteen days, according to temper
atnre. The actual rate of increase is
livery great, owing in part tothe fact
| that the parents do not deyour their
young. The 100 fish brought to
Washington two years ago have in.
creased to, at least, 10000. 1t is
thus able to populate a body of wa
! ter 10 its fullest extent, filing up the
available space with their own kind,
while carnivorous species require
that large number Of other fishes
on which they may prey inhabit the
waters with them. Unlike the ma
jority of American food fishes, their
diet is largely vegetable, and they are
particularly fond Of water crosses and
other juicy plants. They grow fat
upon the dlgOe, commonly called
"Frog- spittle," which covers quiet
waters. They also devour worms and
insect.larv@, which they root out Of
the mud, and all kinds Of refuse mat
ter, such as the ofal OF kitchens,
slaughter.houses, and breweries. BY
reason of these habits they are HARM
less to other fishes inhabiting the
same waters. "The foolish indigo
nous to the United States" says Pro-
lessor Baird, (which has been most
widely distributed in the smaller
ponds and lakes, is the Large
mouthed Black Bass This fish is
very carnivorous, preying upon al
most all species in the same waters.
Even the pickerel is said to decrease
rapidly when IN contact with it. The
necessity tor fish-food is always bar
to great increase of numbers among
fishes, particularly in small bodies OF
water" Carp, on the other hand,
introduced into new waters, fill va.
cancy, and not only do not decrease
the number Of other fishes, but by
supplying them food, enable the exist
ence of large additional number OF
carniyorous fishes.
The Carp is adapted to very varied
climates. and will thrive under condi-
tons untavorable to any equally palat.
able American fish. They are equally
at home in lakes or streams, and in
the merest puddles and bitches, and
are found in the latitude of st. Pc
tersburg as we'll as in Italy and
Northern Africa. 1t is believed that
they will excel all others for propa-
cation in ponds and other sluggish
| waters north and south, now either
barren OF life or inhabited by limit
ed number Of pickerel, cat fish or
sun fish.
| 1t is very hardy. in all stages OF
growth. "The Carp is able," says
DIR. Hessel, ''to live in water where
other fishes could not possibly exist
for instance, in the pools of bog.
meadows or sloughs." Though it is
not to be inferred from this that the
best carp ponds should be thus To-
Gated. In Silesia, puddles Two or
three feet deep. in villages, are used
for raising two year old carp for
stocking distant waters. From this
resource single estate realized what
would amount to about $55 per acre
of pond surface. In Europe carp are
always taken to market alive, in tanks
or barrels, and, if they are not sold,
returned to the water alive at the
end OF the day. They are said to be
kept alive in cellars in the winter,
wrapped in wet moss and ted upon
bread soaked in milk. DIR. Hessel
once kept one in this way five weeks.
In cold climates they protect them
selves from freezing in winter by re.
firing in groups of 50 to 100 or more
into cavities in the muddy bottom
called kettles" where they pass the
time until spring, huddled together
in concentric circles, with their heads
together, the posterior part of the
body raised and held immovably,
scarcely lifting the gills for breath
ing and without taking particle of
food. This abstinence and torpidity
lasts in cold countries six or seven
months, and thus they can live out
a very rigorous winter.
Its growth is very rapid. DR..
Hessel says that in Central Europe
it's growth is entirely suspended dur
ing the winter, the increase in weight
taking place from May to August,
and especially in July. The rate of
growth depends on great many
things the temperature of the water,
the quality and quantity of food, the
nature OF the bottom. In rivers and
lakes they attain the greatest size.
TIE rapidity with which Professor