The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-05-24
T00D-FIsH.
Interesting Facts and Suggestions

The Fish Commissioners OF Illinois
have been experimenting with carp, rs
Foolish, paying particular attention to
their habits and peculiarities, and their
conclusion is that they are tho coming
food-lsh of this country. They are sat
isfied that IF proper interest can be
created, it will only be question OF
time when they will be cultivated rs
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 food-producing
source will be appreciated When the
fact is taken into consideration that the
buffalo, the coarsest of our river fish,
now commands 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 S to
10 cents fish, averaging from six to
ten pounds, the Importance of introduce
inc the carp will be seen"
From letter written by Hon. Spcn-
Ger F. Baird, United States Fish Com
missioner, who is regarded as the best
American authority on this subject, the
following in relation to this fish is
quoted:
although the carp is of Asiatic
origin, ii has been so extensively dis
tributed in Europe rs to have become,
in a manner, native fish, occurring in
public waters as well as in private en-
closures. 1t is emphatically farmers
fish, and may safely be claimed to be
among fishes what chickens are among
birds. and pigs and ruminants are
among animals. Its special merit lies
in the fact of its sluggishncss, and the
ease with which it is kept in very limit
ed enclosures it being vegetable
feeder and its general inotl'cnsiveness,
whereas trout and black bass require
supply of animal food for their sus
i. tenance and growth. The carp, while
not disdaining HES, worms, Larvae, etc,
lives on the succulent roots and leaves
of aquatic plants, their seeds fallen iRtt
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 half years old being
from twenty-five to thirty inches in
length, and weighing from four to eight
or nine pounds They occupy con
spicuous 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 OF
natural ponds with muddy bottoms and
abundant vegetation, In large ponds il
may not be necessary to add any special
food; but in restricted enclosures, as,
for instance, in those of fraction OF an
acre, they may be fed with the refuse OF
the kitchen garden, leaves OF cabbage.
lettuce, leek, 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.
mer. They are very prolific, the femal.
varying from $4,000 TO 100000, accord
ing to her size. The eggs hatch out il
a 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 tt
one hundred, frequently with their tail
projecting, and constituting what il
called in Germany kettles or rolls.