Daily globe., 1882-09-30

Prof. 5. f. 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 so extensively distri-
buted in Europe as to have become, in
n measure, q native fish, occurring in
public waters as we'll as in private en-
closures. The carp, as known in
France and England, is, as stated, an
inferior kind, but in Germany, by a
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 on the
surface. These are known as the Mir
ror carp. Still further breeding pro-
duced fish having scarcely any scales,
only q few scattered here and there.
These are the Leather carp. The
three varieties, however, as imported
by US, are all of irst-class excellence,
and characterized by broad backs, as
distinguished from the sharp back and
more bony character of the common
fish. They occupy a conspicuous
place in the German fish markets, and
bring the same price as the trout, SELL
ing generally for about twenty five
cents per pound.
Its special merit lies in the fact of
its sluggishness and the ease with
which it is kept in very limited enclo-
sure, it being vegetable feeder, and
its general inofensiveness. Whereas,
trout and black bass require supply
Of animal food for their, sustenance
and growth, the carp, while not dis
daining. flies, worms, Larvae, etc., live
on the succulent roots and leaves of
aquatic plants, their seeds, as they fall
into the water, and other similar sub
stances, and may be fcd very readily
upon corn, grain, bread, root crops,
raw or boiled, and, indeed. any vegeta-
bic refuse whatever. Its rate of
growth, too, is something marvellous,
and as observed so far in the specimens
introduced into the United States, be-
ing even more remarkable here than
i'll Europe. Among the original fish
imported by us from Europe, and
which arc now only about three and
q half years old, are some from twen-
ty-fve 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,-
coo eggs, according 10 her size. The
eggs adhere tcnaciously to whatever
they touch, and for that reason it is
very important that the new pond
should be provided with foating seeds
for such attachment. The eggs hatch
ont in Il few days. ana the voting grow
very rapidly. They feed voraciously
upon the so-callcd irog-Spittle, the
green alga scum SO common in frog
ponds. Consequently such waters are
especially auapieu 10 carp. W hcneVcr
the water becomes chilled down to
perhaps forty degrees, and especially
when frozen over 1T the top, the Ii III
bury themselves in the mud, coilgre-
eating i'll lots OF from fifty to Ole ham
dred, fl flequcntly with their tails pro-
jecting, and constituting what is called
in Germany ket ties 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 arc said not 10 lose apprcciably
in weight. III the more southern re-
gions, where the waters do not freeze,
they will probably feed throughout
the year. and make q more rapid
growth.