The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-02-10

Europe in % 900. Mr.. Hassal says that
the abundance ofeggs in a carp is very great
and it is this circumstance that VIII EXPLAIN
its extraordinary increase. A FISH weighing
from four to FIVE pounds contains on an
average from 100000 to 100000 eggs.
Other authorizes figure still higher. The
greatest number of eggs l have any account
of being taken from one hsh was at the
Vienna Exposition. which was S,76O.OOO.
The one that these were takenfrom weighed
"a pounds. and the roe or eggs weighed IL
pounds
Carp are two ye rs old when they begin
TO spawn. There may be one now and then
that will spawn sOoner but not more than
one in a hundred. / have seen a piece GO
ing the rounds of the press in speaking of
MI. Mosley's increase of carp. which he OBJ
tanned of me. 1t stated that they were
yearlings when obtained, the previous De
cember (Which was true), and representing
them to have spawned when one year old.
The fact is they had to be one year old
before they were y~earlings, and at spawning
time were two years old.
Where a man has a very small place for
keeping fish in, the better way would be to
purchase what young fry his pond would
support instead of propagating them, In
this way he can keep quite a number OF
them in a good sized tank OF small pond (it
has been stated thit they have been grown
in washtubs in China) and as they are used
out they can be replenished at a very tri-
fling expense. There should be at least one
in e,ch district or county who would grow
the young fry in quantitles and supply others.
In that many could have them when 1t
would be difficult otherwise.
nur;n- +Ho auvn:pn Saas0n q merchant
able change takes place in the males, pro-
tuberances like warts appearing on the skin
of the back and head and disappearing at
the expiration of that period. Some time
before the spawning season sets in the fall
ing out of the pharyngeal teeth takes place.
These grow anew each year Some days
before spawning the fishes show an increased
viyacity; they rise more often from the
depths below to the surface, followed by the
males. This is called running spawning,
and is more frequent in warm than in rainy
or windy weather. The females prefer
spots which are overgrown with grasses and
other aouetIc plants. The male fish follow
the females, and go as near the waters edge
as the diminished depth of the water will
allow them. They lose all their timidIty.
so that they may be taken very easily.
They lash the water in a lively way, twist
ing the posterior portion of the body ener-
getically, and shooting through the water
near its surface. with short, tremendous
movements of the fins. They do SO in
groups of two or three males to one female
fish, and forming almost one compact mass.
This IS the moment when the female drops
eggs. which are Immediately impreg-
by the milter. AS this process is re.
peated several times, the female drops,
probably, only from 400 to 500 eggs at "a
time, in order to gain resting time, SO that
it will require days and weeks before she
has given up her last egg.
The eggs of the carp are adhesive. not de-
tached like those of the salmonide, these
former adhere in Jumps to objects on which
they have fallen. As soon as the egg has
left the fish it swells up a little. The mucus
which surrounds it serves as "A means TO
fasten it upon some aquatic plant, stone or
bush. Those eggs which have no such OBJ
iect to fasten to are lost. Says Mr.. Hessel
again. | found numerous eggs on the reverse
side of the Nyn1phdc0e and their stems. the
PheHandruna and Jticuldrfd but the
greater number of them | discovered on the
Bestucd F2titdns. which among fishermen
is known generally by the name of water
Its long, narrow. strap-shaped.
thin leaves spread softly over the waters
as also its numerous branches in
the water, afford to the fish the sought-for
opportunity OF depositing its eggs upon, the
lender leaves. The seeds Of this grass are
IN excellent food for the carp. This may
De regarded as a useful Indication to be
acted upon in the construction of ponds.
The eggs will develop themselves quickly
{ in good, warm, shallow water; as early as
he fifth or sixth day the first traces Of dusky
spots. the eyes, will be visible, and in twelve
,r fifteen days the little embryo fish will
Freak through its envelope. This rapid de-
.,elopment takes place only in thoroughly
warm, shallow water, but in deed, cold ponds
t will take from twenty to twenty-five days.