The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-02-05
Carp.


Prof. S. +. Baird, United States
Fish Commissioner, Is interested in
introducing and distributing the Ger
man carp in this country. The fol-
lowing account is given of this fish, by
the professor:
The fish itself is probably Of Asiatic
origin, and has been domesticated in
China for thousands of years. 1t has,
however, been 80 extensively distri-
buted in Europe as to. have become, in
a measure, q native fish, occurring in
public waters as well as in private en-
closures. The carp, as known in
France and England, is, as stated, an
inferior kind, but in Germany, by
process of careful breeding, several
varieties have been developed. Thus,
while the original stock is covered
with large scales, much in proportion
like those of the western Buffalo fish,
variety was first developed in which
many of the scales had disappeared,
leaving here and there patches Oh the
surface. These arc known as the Mir
ror carp. Still further breeding pro-
duced fish having scarcely any scales,
only few scattered here and there.
These are The Leather carp. The
three varieties, however, as imported
by us, are all of ffrst-cass excellence,
and characterized by broad backs, as
distinguished from the sharp back and
more bony character Of the common
fish. They occupy n conspicuous
place in the German fish markets, and
bring the same price as the trout, SELL
ing generally Tor about twenty five
cents per pound.
Its special merit lies in the fact of
its siuggishues, and The ease with
which 1t is kept in very limited enclo.
sure, it being vegetable feeder, and
its General inoilensiveness. Whereas,
trout and black bass require Il supply
of animal FOO for their sust II tllce
and growth, the carp, while not dis
daining flies, worms, larv@, ETC., live
ON the succulenJ roots and leaves of
aquatic plants, their seeds, as they fall
into the water, and other similar SUBJ
stances, and may be tcl very readily
upon corn, grain, bread, root crops,
raw or boiied, and, indeed. any vcgeIa-
BILE refuse whatever. It's rate of
growth, too, is something marvellous,
and as observed so frin the specimens
introduced into the United States, be-
ing even more remarkable here than
in Europe. Among the original fish
imported by us from Europe, and
which are now only about three and
half years old, are some from twen-
ty-iive to thirty inches in length,
weighing from four TO eight or nine
pounds.
The early spawn in the spring, in
May and June, and indeed, under some
circumstances, throughout the entire
summer. We have young fish that
spawned all the way from May to
September. They are very prolific,
the female laying from $4,000 to 500,-
600 eggs, according to her size. Tho
eggs adhere tenaciously to whatever
they touch, and for that reason it is
very important that the new pond
should be provided with floating seeds
for such attachment. The eggs hatch
out in few days, and the young grow
very rapidly. They feed voraciously
upon the so-called og-spittle, the
green alga scum SO common i'll frog
ponds. Consequently such waters are
especially adapted to carp. Whenever
the water becomes chilled down to
perhaps forty degrees, and especially
when frozen over at the top, the fish
bury themselves in the mud, congre-
eating in lots OF from fifty to one hum
drcd frequently with their tails pro-
jectins, ana constituting what is called
in Germany kettles or roses. 1t is
very important that they should not
be disturbed under such circumstances.
OF course, while alternating in this
way they are not feeding, although
they are said not 10 lose appreciably
in weight. LII the more southern re-
gions, where the waters do not freeze,
they will probably iced throughout
the year. and make more rapid
growth.