The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-11-01
The German Carp.

BY 81. w. C. MUTH, MT. HEALTHY, o.
The German carp (cyprinuS car
pio) from having been cultivated
for hundreds of years as domesti-
Gated fish and being of all known
fishes the most readily propagated
and reared, takes rank in this re-
spect with poultry and domestic an
imals generally. A given area of
carp pond will furnish a vastly
greater amount of animal food than
can be obtained on the same
ground from the cultivation of crops
led to domestic animals, and this,
too,at much less labor and expense.
In Germany and Austria vast areas
are occupied in the cultivation of
carp, Prince Schwartberg of Aus
trial. is said, has not less than 30, 900
acres occupied in their culture. In
Germany there is a regular alterna-
ton on the same ground from carp
cultivation to that of the cereals or
other plants. After a certain num-
Der of years, the ponds being drawn
of, ARE allowed to dry and then seed
ed or planted until from one to four
crops are obtained, when the water
is again turned on and the carp rein
troduced. Our lakes and rivers are
full Of vegetable organisms not
now used, upon which carp can live
and thrive. Better than any known
fish, it thriYes in shallow ponds
with muddy bottoms and well sup
piled with aquatic plants. Like the
fowl, the carp is an omniverous
feeder, living upon the vegetation
of its ponds and especially upon
the seeds of seed-bearing aquatic
plants, while the offal from the
kitchen and scraps from the house
hold table, chopped liver, boiled
corn,- ETC., are all consumed with
relish and profit. The carp makes
its growth in summer. At the be-
ginning of the cold season they
seek the deep water in which to
pass that period in kind of sleep
Here a number collect in a body
and form so-called skettle'' in the
mud. They thus remain in their
"kettle" until warm weather returns
without taking a particle of food,
but do not diminish in weight.
During the growing season, howev-
er, its increase is very rapid in good
ponds or all suitable streams where
they can get necessary nourishment.
They attain the length of fifteen to
eighteen inches by the end of the
second summer. With regard to
the quality of food furnished by this
fish, there need be no further ques-
ton, as it is rated by abundant tes-
tlmony as being Of excellent quail
ty. In carp culture quite number
of varieties are known. The two
principle varieties produced by Gull
tivation are the Mirror and the
Leather carp. These differ in the
formation of there scales; the
Mirror is thus named on account of
the extraordinary large scales which
run along the sides of the body in
three or four rows, the rest of the
body being bare. The Leather
carp has on the back either a few |
scales or none at all, and possesses
a thick, soft skin, which feel velve- !
ty to the touch. The Scale carp
differs from the preceding ones
by being entirely covered with
small scales. In Germany they
have three species-Blue carp,
Eeneh carp, carp Dor. The Blue
and carp Dor are only different IN
heir growth and color. The Tench
carp is a cross between the carp
and Tench.
A female carp of three or four
Years. contains on an average 40o,-
700 to 100000 eggs.
The carp prefers stagnant or
slowly running water with muddy
bottom, and lives upon vegetable
Is well as animal food Ponds that
ire well stocked with carp will not
)e founn lowered with that insight
y green Shiny moss that is general
y found in ponds. They will rid
,onds of this entirely and make the
water pure and healthy for farm
~