The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1881-02-17
agricultural
THE CARP THE COMING rIsH.
From Union and Recorder


From Union and Recorder.
As there are number Of persons IN
this vaciniiy interested in The subject
Of fish culture, aud AS | have not
oeen anything 10 your columns IN
regard to ibis remarks able fish, have
thought that a reprod OF the
facts established in reference to 1t
might be Of interest to yolr readers.
Professor Baird IS Of the opinion
that ere many years the Carp will
furnish large proportion of the fish
food of this country. 1t has already
been widely disseminated, but It's
distribution has not seen the begin"
Of lis end yet, ia all probability.
1t is a fish remarkable for it's pro-
likeness, rapid growth, rapid culture
and superior edible qualities, There
are three varieties of Carp, the
"mirror," "scale," and "lesther, ."
the difference consisting merely 10
the presence or absence of scales.
The "leather" Carp has few or no
scales; the "scale" is entirely GOV
cred with scales while the mirror"
has only single row Of scales. 1t
is very sluggish and inoffenslve
fish, with no predaceous tendency
whatever. Its principle food is veg
etable, though it consumes any
worms or water bugs that come in
it's way. When such is provided, as
il must, to make their culture sue
cess, it lives mostly Oh the succulent
roots and leaves OF aquatic plants
and grain of any kind that may tall
into the water When altihcially
fed, their food may consist OF any OF
the grains, garden refuse OF all
kinds, cabbage lettuce, collard, tur
nip leaves and tho like, 10 fact, any
kind of vegetable matter. Ot course
it will be to the interest OF the hSh
cuturist to put his pond in euch con-
djlion as to render tho supplying ct
food attificialIy unnecessary, OF
nearly SO; the pond should be made
seli-supporting, and this is to be
done by stocking it with water plants,
like the ordinary pond weeds; Spat'
ter dock, pond lilly and especially
wild rice sown Oh the borders. The
quality of the carp for table purpose
is said to be excellent, notwithstand-
ing the possession OF some OF the
characteristics that would somewhat
indicate the contrary, Its sluggish
ness, its almost entire dependence
On vegetable food, together with the
fact that it thrives but in warm and
shallow ponds with muddy bottoms
would not indicate the possession OF
superior quality for table use +; but
as it has been proven that it is tne
table fish, that is enough to know.
Ponds with gravolly bottoms, or of
pure sand are mot esteemed aPpro-
pirate for the Carp but muddy bot
toms create choice element for
them. 1t may prove, however, that
this distinction will not hold in more
Southern latitudes but in Northern
latitudes where the water becomes
very cold in the winter a muddy
bottom is deemed desirable and es-
sentia 30 that the fish cen burrow
into the mud aud lie dormant during
the period OF severe cold. In South~
ern waters, which do not become
very cold, it is suggested that this
Information Will not be necessary,
but that the fish will continue to feed
aud grow the winter through. All
this and number OF other questions
of course are yet to be determined
at tho North.
As a rule it is better not to have
any other fish in the same water with
the Carp, though it is stated that the
sucker is the least Objectionable
trout, bass aud perch should not be
permitted on account of their preda
cious habits. The Carp is SAID to be
very prolific, producing from t~o
hundred thousand up to five hundred
thousand eggs according to size.
They spawn from May to September.
The eggs hatch out in a few days.
1t is imp 2rtant 10 have plenty of
floating weeds and trash for the eggs
to attach themselves to. Ihe young
fish grow very rapidly, feeding vo>
raciousIy on the green scum, ('frog
spittle') that is generally abundant
on the, surface OF most Southern
ponds.
According as food is abundant
and surroundings favorable they
grow rapidly, and by the time they
are aud 4 years old attain length
of 20 or so inches, weighing from 4
up to pounds at that age. Like
an Alderman they grow in length
only a certain number of years
much less than 80, but increase in
circumference up to their 35th year.
1t is said that specimens have beeu
found in Germany over a hundred
years old. The largest | have seen
mentioned had attained length of
81 feet and weighed 30 to 40 pounds
In pond culture of course the fish
would not be allowed to attain any
such age or size but would be taken
out for consumption by the time they
are to years old aud when weigh,