The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1882-04-15

GERMAN CARP.
The editor of the Nmes-De nocrat is
most too severe on German Carp, par
ticularly as 1t has only been a few
months since the same paper had an
editorial highly complimentary 81
this new fish. 1t says:
GAS for the German Carp, they en-
counter the competition of several
classes of fish, of equal, if DOT superior
quality as to flavor and nutrition, to
that coarse, hard, thick-skinned, mud
lashing fish. Such are our buffalo
cat, sardines, Of which we have an
abundance, rescue al nauseana, in all
our bayous aud in the great Missis-
sippi. So abundant are these that they
are frequently drawn into the crevas-
SEES in the Mississippi by the powerful
suction of these eccentric diversions of
that terrible torrent in such masses as
when scattered over the overlooked
lands they become offensive to the
senses, and are disdained as unwhole-
some food by even the swine. And
yet in their natural and normal state,
these fish are esteemed, especially in
the country and by even not over-fas-
tidious gourmands, as superior to
casp, which is ranked here with the
gar and the shupeck."
1t is pity so much pains has been
taken by the United States fish Com
missioner to introduce fish no better
than the gar, which is about as pallit-
able as piece of alligator or moccasin
snake. Hundreds of thousands of
dollars have been spent in the trans
pOrtatiOn and in the construction of
ponds to receive these gars. We had
gone to considerable expense our
selves. which, no doubt, would have
been more deeply considered, had the
article been penned before we made
the experiment. But it seems great
many persons who are fish epicures,
and as proficiently versed in the
science of fishculture as the editor,
who differ a little from his views.
In Maryland, whose waters abound
in the finest fish, carp have been tried
and found to be superior to most of
the fresh-water fish. In Florida,
where all kinds of the finest fish are
abundant, carp are being extensively
propogated. Carp culture has been
most successful in California. Per-
sons in that State have made as high
as S400 from an acre of water raising
these fish for the different markets.
1t may be the people OF these States
have not that cultivated, refined, fish
taste, which may be peculiar to the
people of Louisiana. A Georgia
paper says:
1.-THE Garman carp, the valuable
foolish recently introduced to this
country, is making its way to all
parts of it with great rapidly. Mr.. |
A bel Wright, who began with two or
three dozens of the carp three years
ago, thinks that he now has at least
\ million in his pond at Griffin, Ga.
he has sold more than 5000, at twenty
dollars hundred, and cannot keep up
with his orders. He bears out Mr..
Seth Green's statement that one can
almost see the carp grow, so rapidly
does 1t increase in size. Mr.. Green as
serts that an acre of water can be
made as profitable as an acre of and,
and it does not cost much to make the
Other facts could be produced, If
necessary, in defense of a fish which
was brought all the way from Hun
gary to populate our empty ponds,
and furnish food for the people. We
are sorry it turns out so badly, but
when they get big enough we will
relish them in preference to the
catfish, and the
gar.
The editor only takes Eng ish for
German carp. There is good differ
,nce in the two kinds of fish. Prof.
Baird, United States Fish Comm s.
ioner, who is good authority, says:
1.-THE German carp bears about the
anne relation to ordinary Eng lsh
arp that a North Carolina pine
woods pig does to one OF Berkshire
freed. In Germany the carp is esti-
mated as highly as the trout, and sells
or the same price in market.
DIR. Kessel, an eminent German fish
ulturist, asserts that, in principal
titles Of Europe, the carp, in spite Of
IN abundant supply of saltwater
nd fresh-water fish, is ever preferred
o these aud, with the exception OF
rout and salmon, commands a price
hree times as high as that of all the
est. In conclusion, respecting their
able qualities, allow me to quote tn
emark Of the editor of this paber,
fter munching tn experimental mess.
lays he: 1--WE found ample reason
n our taste to approve the verdict
which is generally given by authori-
les on German carp, and that is, that
he fish is Of especial and distinctive
merit for food. The fish is exceedin-
ly sweet and rich, and Is invested
nth flavor very enjoyable and quite {
Of the fish. We have
iven them fair test and find them
most excellent breakfast timber"
Encouraging Industry,