Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-06-24
QUALITY, OF CARP.
Not Very Beautiful Hut Exceedingly
Useful aud Wholesome Fish.

Not = Very Beautiful hut Exceedingly
Useful and Wholesome Fish.
Undoubtedly the carp is an easily
bred fish, and edible; but 1t is not
beautiful, and. TO the sportsman, is be-
meath contempt The breeding Of the
imported fish should continue rs one OF
the provisions for the food supply OF
che future; but il is 20 the whitehsh and
black bass and trout what q bsrn-yard
fowl is 70 the quail or woodcock or
canyas-batk duI =" This ia from n
Chicago daily of recent date. The
last clause, while probably true, is
really without force, except to the
amateur fishermen. or To the wealthy
epicures whose tables arc supplied
with all the delicacies, regardless of
cost. The domestic fowls are, when at
their prime. delicious and healthful
food. good enough for the best of US.
The farmer has no time. even II he had
the inclination. to shoulder his gun
and roam for hours or days over the
prairies in search of quail or woodcock
In the game season." his crops arc
demanding attention. Besides, such
birds as the quail and prairie chicken arc
his friends, which are 10 DO protected,
chat they may help him In his warfare
against insect foes No more has he
time to 'play" trout, or black bass,
by the hour. for the sport OF the thing.
He raises barn-yard fowls for the profit
there Is in them, and rs food for his
family. So he will raise the carp.
And here let us say that such disciples
OF the rod as Mr.. Fairbank. who well
knows the taste Of the most delicate Of
the iinny tribes, admits that the carp.
when taken at the proper season. fresh
from the pond. and well prepared. is
really a most excellent fish. AS he
put it at the Fisheries Society meeting,
1t is TO be preferred TO the silver trout
Of the lakes. II has become the FASH
Ion for the sporting world TO sneer at
the carp. To them it has no merit
BECAUSE it is not game" There is no
vacation sport in catching it. Well,
that is all right, neither is there any
great sport in hunting about the farm
yard, yet. II the truth must be told,
few sportsmcn seem above taking n
crack at a ane barn yard fowl whom 4
the game bag Is empty and tho farmer
IS away in the field, and unable to pro-
tect his property. After all that has
been said to the contrary, by preju-
diced people and those who repeat
their words, the carp is good, edible
fish. that has come to stay. and to bring
money and health to the farmer and his
family.
OF course. carp taken during the
spawning season, say from May 10 to
last Of June, will be inferior. So arc
any fish taken during the season Of
spawning. The same Is true if taken
where the water has been uniformly
very warm for continued period.
The objection TO hack of beauty in carp
is too trihing for consideration, when
discussing the economic phase Of the
fish question. A hungry man. when
sitting down to appease his appe-
tite, does not stop to inquire after
Che color of the fsh's skin. or
the shape of its body before taken
from the water. II the fish is palata-
bic and supplies the wants Of the sys-
tenn no Is satisfied. A gruntiDg, mud
besmeared pig in the sty is not very
beautiful or appetizing object. but q
well-roasted piece Of fresh pork or a
slice OF nicely-broiled ham is pleasant
TO the palate and satisfies hunger.
Carp meat has the advantages overpig
meat that it has never been known TO
be infested with triehina or with the
taipt Of scrofula, nor is fat with en-
byo tape-wosma-PrGirss Farmer.