Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-04-26

Interesting Facts and Suggestions,

The Fish Commissioners OF Illinois
have been xperimenting with carp, as
foolish. paving particular attention TO
their habits and peculiarities, and their
conclusion is that they are the coming
Foolish Of this country. They are sat
isfied that IF proper interest can be
created, it viii only be q question OF
time when they will be cultivated as
generally on farms as are chickens and
hogs; and that when the small amount
of trouble and expense necessary for
raising and feeding them is considered.
their Importance as a food-producing
source will be appreciated. When the
fact is taken into consideration that the
buffalo, the coarsest of our river fish,
now commands a price that makes them
a luxury, retailing even at river points
at 8 to 10 cents pound, when few
wears ago they could be bought for to
10 cents a fish, averaging from six to
ten pounds, the Importance OF introduc-
ing the carp will be seen. "
From n letter written by Hon. Spen-
Ger +. Baird, United States Fish Com
missioner, who is regarded rs the best
American authority on this subject, the
following in relation to this fish is
quoted
although the carp is OF Asiatc
origin, 10 has been so extensively dis
tributed in Europe as to have become,
in manner, a native fish, occurring in
public waters as well rs in private en-.
closures. Ii is emphaticallY farmer
fish, and may safely be claimed to be
among fishes what chickens are among
birds, and pigs and Tuminants are
among animals. Its special merit lies
in the fact of its suggishuess. and the
ease with which it is kept in very limit
ed enclosures-it being vegetable
feeder and its general inofIensiyeness,
whereas trout and black bass require a
supply of animal food for their sus-
tenance and growth. The carp, while
not disdaining flies, worms, larvae, etc,
lives on the succulent roots and leaves
of aquatic plants, their seeds fallen iRto
the water. and other similar substances,
and may be fed very readily upon corn,
grain, bread, root crops, raw or boiled,
and indeed any vegetable refuse what
ever Its rate Of growth, too, is some
what marvellous, and, as observed 50 fal
in the specimens introduced into the
United States, is even more remarkable
here than in Europe, some now only
about three and a half years old being
from twenty-five TO thirty inches in
length, and weighing from four to eight
or nine pounds. They occupy n con
spcuous place in the German fish mar
kets, and bring the same price as trout,
selling for about % cents per pound
The carp will thrive best in artificial or
natural ponds with muddy bottoms and
abundant vegetation. In large ponds it
may not be necessary to add any special
food but in restricted enclosures, as,
for instance, in those of q fraction Of an
acre, they may be fed with the refuse OF
the kitchen garden, leaves of cabbage,
lettuce, leck, etc, hominy or other sub
stances. The carp spawn in the Spring,
in May or June, and indeed, under some
circumstances throughout the entire sum
mcr They are very prolific, the female
varying from $4,000 to 500, 000 accord
ing to her size. The eggs hatch out in
n few days, and the young grow very
rapidly. They feed occasionally on So
called frog-spittle, the green algo scum
that is so common in frog ponds. Con.
sequently such waters are especially
adapted for carp. Whenever the water
becomes cold down to perhaps 40 deg,
and especially when frozen over at the
top, the fish bury themselves in the
mud, aggregating in lots FROM fifty to
one hundred frequently with their tails
projecting, and constituting what is
called in Germany kettles or rolls