The Press., 1883-06-28
(Maine Farmer.) THE GERMAN CARP.

In answer to an inquiry with regard to the German carp, the food fish about which much has been written of late, we would say that although public attention has but recently been called to it in this country as valuable food fish, yet it was bred and well known in China many cent uries ago. By careful culture the Chinese have greatly improved the fish, both in re- spect to it's size and quality, and it was from the Chinese stock that those sprung which have been brought to this country. The Carp family of fish. embraces many varieties characterized especially by having soft fins. The gold fish belongs to this family, but the more common species is the cypri,aus carpao, native of the east, introduced into Europe in the fourteenth century, and from there introduced into this country How the species under con- sideration happens to be called the Ger man carp, we have not the means of know ing.
 The national fish and game commission CTS have large number of yearling carp which are to be distributed to those having suitable facilities in the way of ponds, and the fish so distributed will be under gov- ernment protection for the space of three years. They will be furnished free of cost, the commissioners only charging the first cost of the tin cans containing them. The German carp will thrive the best in warm, stagnant, muddy water, where most other and choicer food fish cannot live at all :. in fact 1t is essential to the existence of the carp that the water be of that temperature which will produce grass in its muddy bot tom upon which the fish feeds. It is 8 vegetable eater and does not destroy the young of its own or any other species. Each medium-sized female carp will de- posit from June to August, on the weeds, grass and sticks, from four to six hundred thousand eggs annually, and if not too much imbedded in the mud, these eggs will hatch in about two weeks after they are deposited. If there is plenty of food, the young fry, if they hatch in June, will be three or four inches long in September, when its season of growth ceases ~sy5
 In this latitude, the carp will go into winter quarters and remain in hibernated state through the winter. Before this happens, they excayate place in the mid which is called a kettle into this they place themselves, with the tail elevated a little above the head, go to sleep and re- main so until the advent of warm weather recalls them to life. In warmer countries, where the season is long and food abund- ant the yearling carp grows yefy rapidly, and at the end of it's second seasons growth attains length of foot and 8 half to two feet, and weighs from three to four pounds. All it's growth is made in about four months, and while it gains nothing during it's winter lethargy, it loses nothing. | The carp has not the fine flavor of many of our food fishes, nor could this be expect ed when we consider that its natural habit is mud hole, but as it is aipurely vegeta- ble feeder, it is much better than would naturally be expected from its situation, and is nutritious and wholesome. Its great merit is in its. fecundity and rapid growth. From what has been said, the situation where the carp will thrive will be readily understood. It will not survive in cold, rapidly running water, and will not do at all well in ponds having a sandy or gravelly bottom, or even common loa1n. It requires mud from which it's food of grass and weeds will spring up. As a veg etable feeder, it will not take readily to any bait, though they arefrequently caught ! on hook which has been baited with g bread paste ball sweetened with honey or some vegetable food which has been fed to l it, such as green peas, lettuce, etc.