The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-11-21
THE GERMAN CARP.
its Introduction Into the Northern
Pacific Country.

As the United States Fish Commits
sioner intends to put several thousand
carp into the waters along the Northern
Pacific railroad, of which Gallatin county
will be entitled to some, we publish the
following about this interesting fish:
In paper read befoce the American
Association. Mr.. c. W. Smiley. of Wash
ington, d. c., said he had some years
ago imported from Germany thirty or
forty pairs of this fish They were
placed in breeding ponds in Washington,
and have increased many fold, the num-
Der spawned this year being 400, 900.
The carp is naturally a warm water fish,
and in the waters of the Southern States
grows with astonishing rapidity and to
great size. They will also do well in the
cold water of the north, even in Mime
sofa. Nearly every state and county in
the United States has fish commission,
and they are all propagatiny carp. 1t
has also been taken up as a private specu-
latioh, and carp are sold for breeding
purposes as high as S. per pair.
The carp roots about in the mud for
aliment. and much resembles poultry in
its manner of getting food Carp aged
three years are often found t. weigh
twelve to fifteen pounds, and gain in
weight of four pounds has been observed
in carp in one year. The carp is slug
gish; while trout, bass and other lively
fish frisk about, and do not fatten 50 fast
as the carp. Experiments have shown
that female carp spawn at the age of one
year in southern waters, and in the ex-
tremc northern waters of the United
States in three years. Other fish, t,lr-
ties, muskrats, snakes, and even birds,
eat young carp. bird snot in Wash
ishington recently had in its stomach
the heads of seventy mine Young carp.
The United States Fish Commissioners
recently sent out requests for informa-
ton about carp experimental with in
this country; most Of the replies placing
the carp on an equality with trout, bass
shad as food fish, while few classed
them with pike, and Il very few said they
had muddy taste. She carp is the best
pond fish yet known, and in very small
pond will thrive well, so that families
may easily have their own fish garden il
they have enough water to make per-
manent pond. The carp is very hardy
fish for shipment, requiring little water
to keep alive in. The United States Fish
Commissioner is giving away carp, send
ing them by express to any point, the
receiver paving express charges. The
fish will thrive on table refuse and almost
anything edible. Carp can be kept in
winter in tub in the cellar, the watar
requiring to Re kept fresh. Care should
be taken to keep poisonous substances
out of carp ponds, and too much food
should not be thrown in. In cooking
carp, thorough cleansing is needed; and
frying should he done in hot pans anil
hot grease.
As to the economics of this subject,
Mr. Smiley said that fish culture. was
more and more becoming Il part OF the
farmers occupation, and thought that,
not very long in the future. most of the
farmers Of the country would have little
fish ponds in their door yards. both as a
method of obtaining food and as an orna-
ment to the homestead.