Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-11-17
cAaP NOT popuLAR.
They Thrive Wen Enough, but Are Not
Very Good To Eat

4 lucy A1HlFc wen Enough bus Are Not
Very Good to Eat
When the government some years ago
began the introduction Of carp into this
country q great deal of interest was mani
Tested in the project and all kinds of pre-
dictions were INDUCED in. Carp ponds
were constructed all over the country
and the immigrants took kindly to Amer
lean water. The prediction that the
carp would do well in this country was
soon realized, but there does not seem to
be much prospect of tho realization Of
the prediction that it will be the future
food fish of this country. At any rate,
Jerseymen are not taking kindly to eat
ing it. An attempt was made to intro
duce it into the market at Paterson and
the price dropped to ten and eight cents
per pound, but the taste of the people wns
more favorable TO catfish and porgies,
and the carp were driven out Of the
market, Those who ate them pro.
nounced them worse than the American
sucker, and nobody seemed anxious for
q second trial. George jackson, of Lit
tie Falls, was one Of the first to catch the
carp fever, and he has several ponds full
of the various kinds. One day he killed
one weighing about four pounds. 1t
was prepared in various different WAYS.
and was found to be enough for dozen
families. Carp boiled, stewed, fried and
fixed in different other ways was passed
about the neighborhood, but nobody
called for second plate. Then some
one suggested that the proper way to eat
kyoG Syit WI xx.sv
returned verdict without leaving their
seats that this was good way to spoil
port wine.
In the upper part of Passaic county
there were number Of carp ponds. One
night freshet swept them away and the |
carp got into the river Since that time
they have multiplied rapidly, and last
year large numbers weighing about a
half to three-quarters Of pound were
caught. This year they are caught in
still larger numbers, and the average
weight has increased to over a, pound,
and occasionally one Weighing three or
four pounds is caught. They have been
caught weighing six or seven pounds,
but carp of this size are scarce.
The Passaic river, from the Morris
county line for several miles either way.
Is sluggish stream, admirably adapted
for the growth of carp. This part Of the
river is now literally alive with them.
and it takes but short time to catch a
largo number. They will take a worm
like any common fish. but the largest
number are caught on dough mixed with
cotton. Boiled peas make delicate bait,
and when boiled string beans are pre-.
'ented to them the carp fairly jump with
lelight.
After they are caught they are grner-
llly thrown away, fell to the cats or
lsed for manure. Very few people I'M
lertake to eat them. In some places the
arp are so thick that they can DO seen
1t times by the hundred Then again
hey stir up the bottom in search of bait.
md tho water presents a muddy appear
nee for a considerable distance around
n this way the river is kept almost con.
inually stirred up, so that people living {
long the banks are complaining of the
Iuality Of the drinking water.
What this marvellous increase in carp
) going to result in is question that Is
some people. Other fish in
reduced into waters where they do not
elong have frequently multiplied SO rap
lily as to dio off by the thousands for
'ant of nourishment, and have thus
aused disease, their rotting carcassos \
cling exposed to tho action of the sun
nd tho water. If is feared that this will i
0 the case with tho carp, and many of
10 residents along the Passaic river ere
liking about joining the knownothing =
lrty and putting nothing but American
sh on guard.
Anglers having tried the carp and
'und them wanting in garny qualities.
INCLUDED that their iatroduction would
, good thing for the bass and pickerel,
no, it was thought, would relish the
ZIP 10 feed upon. But the bass aro too p
tensely American to have d tasto for 4
rip, and they let them severely alone =,
I'd look for other food. Fishing for !,
.ss and pickcrel is just as good rs it has Il
ell FOR years, and tho carp do not seem " "
have interfered with tho food supply "
other fish. Catching carp is n novelty n
an angler, but no soon tires Of it, and ~
@ result is that they are being let alone, q
ID VIXEN caught b. accident they are ""i
morally thrown bacl. into tic water. u
10 carp, consequently, have everything u
cir own way, and are continuing TO
ultiply until they threaten to take rnnl;
1on8 tho fishes which tho English spar
W occupies among tho birds of this 4
York Herald. II