National Republican., 1883-10-19
CARP PROPAGATION.
The Work Of Shipment by the Fish Commits
sion to Commence Soon.
Sketch OF the History OF the Carp and the
Extent of Distribution.


headquarters in this city, are making active
preparations to commence the distribution of
German carp over this country about Nov. L.
For this purpose the government will run
the two cars which were used last year. They
nre now undergoing thorough repairs and re-
modelling, and will be here in time for the
beginning of the season. Last year these cars
were provided with sleeping, cooking, and
dining apartments, and tanks filled with
water heated to certain degree for distrib-
uting the fish over the country. Thls year
these arrangements will be made much more
perfec and effective. The German carp are
divided into three varieties, known as the
"scale," leather" and mirror The
leather variety is found much more conven-
lent for raising and propagation in this coun-
try than the other varieties, and conse-
quently the fish commission has paid more
attention to that species Last year fully
250,000 of the leather carp were distributed
among the different states. This year the
demands for leather carp from state author
tiles, congressman, and others, is much
greater than those of last year, and the gov
ernment has made greater preparations. 1T is
therefore safe to say that over 100000 of
these fish will be transplanted from the
Washington carp ponds to lakes creeks
rivers, and ponds of the several states before
Christmas. The Washington carp ponds
are located on the vacant ground
near the Washington monument, and arc in
charge of Rudolph Hessel q German of little
education, but of great natural ability, es-
pecally in matters of science. These ponds
aro probably the most extensive in America,
and are most admirably adapted to the pur-
pose of propagation. Although there are
thousands of young fish swimming about in
them now, their capacity is much greater,
and countless thousands more Of this rare fish
can be produced in them each season if de-
sirable
The first of the distributing season, be-
ginning Nov. /, will be devoted to the more
northern states, and will gradually extend to
the south and southwest Last year
Kentucky drew more than any other
state, Congressman Blackburn alone re-
ceiving over 5000 fish for his district
In view of the domestic nature of the German
leather carp. and its general adaptabilty, it
is strange that the people of the District of
Columbia and the adjacent counties of Mary
land and Virginia have not moro extensively
noticed it, The above is the opinion of those
eminent in the culture of fish, and particu-
larly the officers of the commission who have
frequently declared that carp ponds could be
successfully established along Rock creek
the eastern branch, and the adjacent waters
of the contiguous states. From present ap-
pearances carp culture is destined to become
u feature in tho district rs well rs in Virginia
and Maryland.
The carp was first introduced into Europe
from Central Asia centuries ago, and is now
domesticated in Bohemia, Austria Southrcn,
Central, and Northern Germany, and was
finally imported into England in 1904, and
into Austria, which has the most extensive
ponds in Europe, as carly as 1927. The en-
peror, Charles ~, of Germany, by granting
special privileges, also established ponds in
his dominion at an early date. As early as
tho first half of the fourteenth century Boz
in had pQta at bn
same time the culture of the fish existed rs
an industry in Poland, and that district
which now comprises German Austria; also
Upper Saxony, Silesa, Bavaria, and
other parts of that portion of Eu-
rope. In the "a early portion Of the four
- teenth century mammoth ponds were con-
structed near the town of Wittingau, which
were established by the lords of Rosenberg
and maintained for hundreds of years at their
expense. These ponds are now in use and
command the universal respect of modern
scientists and fish culturists on account Of
their vasteXpanse. These ponds comprise at
this late date 10000 acres and yield annually
100000 pounds of edible fish.
Although imported from an extremely
northern climate into the United States, the
carp is found to thrive better in those states
OF the union possessing u moro temperate
climate. The reason of this is that in Ger
many, their native country they can only feed
whereas in the more genial states of this
country they can feed almost the entire year
around. By this means they gain weight
much faster. The carp is partial to stagnant
water and mud where weeds and grass grow
at the bottom, and attain weight in three
years of from three to four pounds on an
average In many cases they have been
known to reach twice the above size in the
same space of time.
The pond for the cultivation of carp should
be three feet deep about the center, and in
accordance with the size a cavity of from
twenty to fifty feet in length, and two feet
deeper than the remainder should be dug to
serve us n resting place for the fish. In
most cases the bottom of the pond should be
covered with one foot of loan soil, which
should be afterward increased for fish will
not thrive in q pond with poor soil at its
hottom. Tho inflow of water should not be
direct, as for instance, brook flowing into
the pond. Ths causes the wat It to rise too
suddenly and carrying into the pond other
fish, especially the vicious pike. The carp
invariably swim toward the inflow, leaving
their food, and for this reason the water
should be conducted in gradually from n side
stream The ponds must be arranged SO that
ovcrilows will be impossible, and provided
with gTatings to prevent other fish from
coming in; and fixed so as to be easily
drained. The bottoms of the German ponds
can he relieved OF water at any time and
used for agricultural purposes. In Europe
ponds of from 10 acres to 1000 can commonly
be seen. They are sometimes afterward
planted and produce lu&uriant crops of grain
and othOr agricultural products Before thC
foundation Of the dam is laid the ground
where II is to stand must be dug to deptl
of from two to four feet, and if in n sandy
region it must be constructed of rich soil SC
as to facilitate the rapid growth of weeds
and other fish food. The soil at the bottom
should be packed very tightly.
In central Europe the carp are domes'
ticated the same rs poultry anC
swine, and it is common
occurrence to see farmers, and even women
and children. call them to the edges of care
fully prepared ponds and feed them will
refuse from the kitchens and other waste
food. which Is eaten with avidity and add
greatly to their growth and weight.
Mr.. Rudolph Hessell, the German manage
of the government carp ponds in this city
treats the carp under his care in a simila
manner, and nothing can be more amusing 4
visitor than to see him call them to the edg,
and feed them with crumbs of bread and othe
table refuse. Car ponds can be constructed
with euse near the banks of Rock creek, East
ern branch, and the rivers adjacent L
tho national capital and Baltimore
and the fish commission hope tina
more attention will be paid l.
their culture in the future by residents o
this section of the country. A farmer o
other person cultivating carp in this section
can readily find market at highly remuner
utiye rates New York, Philadelphia, Balti