Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-11-19
VISIT TO rHE CARP CAR.
seme Sateresting Fact. Ceseerning
the intreduesiea Of Carp late
Weaf<gu WafRr&.

seme iateresting Facts CeseerninI
the infroduetien Of Carp late
Western Waters.
Yesterday morning the PosT- -IsrxIrI
sEscEB mentioned the arrival ia thi
city Of the carp ear. from the Unites
States Fish Commission, which arrive,
here late Tuesday evening.
The car vas placed on the siding nea
the CoIuUbia and Puget Sound Rail
road Company's saw nill, and va
visited yesterday by hundreds Of curi
ous persons as we'll as many applicant,
for fish.
The car Is very complete in all its
arrangements, being furnished with q
kitchen, dining room. Office, lockers
befths and all the necessary cenven
fences for five men. The fish tank Il
under the car, between the trucks. IL
the car is an engine for pumping the
water from one tank TO another, and q
refrigerator. where the water can be 70
dused TO almost any degree of eoelaess
In fact, the arrangements in the car are
50 complete that the water IN which the
fish live can be kept at the same tenn
perature in any climate, with little OF
no difficulty. This ear was bailt by the
Government especially for the purpose
for which if is heing used. It is undei
charge of J. Frank Ellis, for many
years connected With the United States
Commission of Fish and Fisheries, and
Who understands his business thor
oaRhly. In conversation with the
writer, Mr.. Ellis said: I'VE left Wash-
ington three weeks age to-day, having
1000 young carp, which were hatched
in July or August, for distribution in
the west. These fish were hatobe
IN pond in she block adjoining the
White House, in Washington City. We
took one thousand tin buckets. each OF
which holds about half a gallon of
water, and into each of which We placed
twenty young carp. Our first stop vas
in Iowa, where We distributed 300 fish
at 81. Paul We distributed 1900, to be
placed in the lakes and ponds through
Wisconsin, Minnesota and Southern
Dakota; at Bismarck We left 500 for
Northern Dakota. We distributed 200
TO applicants at Helena; 800 at Walla
Walia. and Portland about $500. Ia
coma received 100, and the remainder
will be distributed among applicants at
Seattle, and from the lower sound. On
the car l have three assistants, X. s.
Jehuson, Chas. Stevens and Richard
applications for nearly, il not quite all
the carp We have, but many of the ap-
plicants have not yet called for their
nsh. Among those Of your citizens who
have been supplied with carp. each per
son being allowed twenty ash, are @.
W. Lavton, Fred. M. Hall, Adolph Pep
land, l.. Reinig. Black DiamoAd Coal
Company, Charles Kellogg. DIR. d. NJ.
Kennedy, Louis Stein, John Spencer,
Fred. klennen, W. II. Surber, s. D..
A. W. Piper, II. SHREDDER. p.
b. M. Miller. Peter Bauman and Geo.
Van Dyke"
I'VE spend about ten months in each
year In this car, and we often hatch out
fish from spawn while travelling. The
carp are a hardy fish, but require to
have the water changed every ~ hours.
Out of the 10000 fish which We had
when we left Washington, we have only
lost 70 fish, and these we're lost through
a slight accident at Tacoma. which up
set two or three buckets. We do not
feed she fish. They derive sufficient
from the water. No spe-
cies of fish breed more rapidly than the
carp. After three years old each female
sarp spawns from 1000 to 65. COO every
year as long as she lives. When full
grown, carp average from 20 to 30
pounds in weight. but have seen them
weigh as high as 80 pounds"
Ii may be well to state that il is of no
use to introduce carp in waters already
occupied with such fsh as bass, sunfish,
perch. trout. or any other iesh-eatiue
species whatever; even ohubs and min
nows are Objectionable. Although the
iish supplied might not be liable to in
jury, their eggs and young would Ger
Iainly be devoured. and no result would
come from the experiment. IL is, there
fore, recommended to persons interest
ed in the subject who are not sure that
their present ponds are free from fish,
10 begin by preparing a pond Of say 50
feet square for the reception of the
,arp. After they have attained the age
Of from three TO six months they may
be transferred 10 other suitable waters.
TIE carp car will remain here until
and possibly longer.
Mr.. Ellis enjoyed drive about the
city yesterday in company with Mayor
iesler, and expressed himself ss greatly
surprised at the size and thrift Of Sc
attic, after the statement which bad
been made to him by railroad officials
at Tacoma
One Of the assistants said: While at
Tacoma they told rs there was no use
taking our car to Seattle, as Seattle was
only a one horse town anyhow. On our
arrival at this beautiful city, you can
imagine our surprise. Why, from what
can see, l think Tacoma is q dull,
sleepy village compared with SeattIe's
sizs. thrift and business-like appear
ance."