Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-04-08
TFrom tho Southern Cultiyator. |
The Carp.

IN exceedingly valuable addition to our
sources of food supply. 1t seems to possess
every qualification that ono could desire
very hardy, living on vegetable food, the
cheapest aud most easily supplied thriving
in ponds with muddy bottoms, the very
kind which requires 20 labor or trouble to
hayc-growing to immense size--in short
itnppcars to be thoroughly domcsticatcd
fish. The following account of it by Prof.
Baird will DO found very interesting:
"Thc fish itself is probably of Asatic
origin, aud has been domes,icatcl in China
for thousands Of years 1t has, however,
been SO extensively distributed in Europe
as to have become, n measure, native
fish, occurring in public waters as vol as
in private enclosures. The carp, as known
ir France aud England, is as stated, an in
ferior kind, but in Germany, by process
of careful breeding, several varieties have
been developed. Thus, whilc tho original
stock is covered with largo scales, much ia
talo fish, variety was first developed in
which many OF the scales had disappeared,
leaving here and there patches on the sur
faco. These arc known as the Mirror Carp.
Still further breeding produced fish having
soarcly any scales, ouly few scattering
hele aud there. These arc the Leather
Carp. The thrco varieties, however, as
imported by US, arc all Of first class excel,
lcnce, and characterized by broad backs, us
distinguished from the sharp buck md more
bony character of the common fish. They
occupy conspicuous place in tho German
fish markets, and bring the same price as
the trout, selling generally for about 25
cents per pound.
"Its special merit lies n tho fact of its
sluggishncss aud tho case with which it is
kept in very limited enclosures, it being n
vegetable feeder, aud its general inofl'ensivo-
ncss. Whereas, trout and black bass ro-
quiro supply of animal food for their
sustenanoe and growth, tho carp, while not
disdaining flies, worms, lary;e, etc., live on
tho succulcnt roots and leaves of aquatic
plants, their seeds, as they fall into tho
water, and other similar substances, and
may be fed very readily upon corn, grain,
bread, root crops, raw or boiled, and, in
deed, any vegetable refuse whatever. Its
rate of growth, too, is something marvellous
and us observed 80 far in the specimens in.
troduced into tho United States, being even
more remarkable here than in Europe.
Among the original fish imported by us
from Europe, and which arc now only
about three aud half years old, are some
from % to 30 ioohcs in length, weighing
from four to eight or nno pounds. The
fish wo send you arc all of this springs
growth, somc Of them having made seven
inches since they were hatohcd in May or
June.
"Ihc carp spawn 10 tho spring, in May
end June, and indeed, under somo circum-
stances, throughout tho entire summer.
Wo havo young fish that spawned all the
way from May to September. They are
very prolific, the female laying from So.
600 to 100000 eggs, according to her size.
The eggs adhere tenaciously to whatever
they touch, and for that reason it is very
important that tho new pond should be
provided with floating weeds for such at
tachncnt. The eggs hatch out in few
days. and the young grow very rapidly.
1'hoy feed voracously upon the so-callcd
frog spittlc, the green alga scum so common
in frog ponds. Consequently such waters
arc especially adapted to carp. Whenever
the water becomes chilled down to perhaps
400, and especially when frozen over at the
top, the fish bury themselves in tho mud
congrcgatng in lots from so to 100, frc-
qucntly with their tails projecting, and
constituting what is called in Germany
kettles or roses. 1t is very important that
they should not bo disturbed under such
circumstances. OF course, while hiberna-
ting in this way they arc not feeding,
although they arc said not to lose approcia-
bly, in weight. In tho moro Southern
regions, where the waters do not freeze,
they will probably feed throughout the year,
and mike more rapid growth
''Thc carp will thrive best in artificial
or natural ponds with muddy bottoms, and
such as abound in vegetation. In largo
ponds it may not bo necessary to give spo-
cial food, but in restricted enclosures, as
for instance, those of fraction of an acre,
they may be fed with the refuse of the
kitchen garden, leaves of cabbage, lettuce,
lcek c,c., hominy or other substances.
Grain Of any kind is generally better boiled
before being fed to the fishes, but this is
probably not absolutely necessary. We
have our ponds arranged so that they can
DO drawn off at will, leaving all the fish in
tho pond collected 10 small basin near the
outlet. This is for the convenience Of
asserting tho fish, and soliciting such as are
needed for other purposes. 1t is prime
necessity that thero will bo no predaoeous
fish in the Same pond with carp. Ofoourso
tho larger fish will bo measurably secure
against tho attacks of tho carnivorous spc~
eies of about tho same size, but the ogga
and young will become prey to the rapao-
ity of their associates. As a general rule
tho fish will thrive best when they arc tho
saIs essgRaats 7, of par!!cu!sr waterS, al