Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-11-10
CARP NOT POPULAR.

CARP NOT POPULAR.
They Thrive Well Enough. hut Are Not
Very Good to Est.
When the government some years ago |
began the introduction of carp into this
country great deal Of interest was mani |
tested in the project and all kinds Of pre-
dictions were indulged in. Carp ponds |
were constructed all over the country
and tho 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 the 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
tho price dropped to ten and eight cents
per pound, but the taste Of the people was
more favorable to catfish and porgies,
and the carp were driven out Of the
market. Those who ate them pro-
nounccd 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 tho various kinds. One day he killed
one weighing about four pounds. It
was prepared In various different ways,
and was found to be enough Gr dozen
families. Carp boiled, stewed, fried and
fixed in different other ways was passed
about the neighborhood, but nobody
called for a second plate. Then some
one suggested that the proper way to eat
it was with port wine sauce. The jury
returned verdict without leaving their
seats that this was good way to spoil
port wine.
In tho upper part Of Pnssaic 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 Q
half to three-quarters of pound were
caught. This year they are caught IL
still larger numbers, and the averag,
weight has increased to over q pound
and occasionally one weighing three O
four pounds is caught. They have beer
! caught weighing SIX or seven pounds
but carp of this size are scarce.
The Passaic river, from tho Morri
county line for several miles either way
is u sluggish stream, admirably adaptet
! for the growth Of carp. This part Of tn
river Is now literally alive with them
!, and it takes but short time to catch
large number. They will take a worn
, like any common fish, but the largcs
number are caught on dough mixed wit
Q cotton. Boiled peas make a delicate bait
and when boiled string beans are pre
sented to them the carp fairly Jump wit
1 delight.
After they are caught they are gcneI
ally thrown away, fed to the cats {
!. used for manure. Very few people III
,lertake to eat them. In some places tn
:, carp are SO thick that they can be see
ut times by the hundred. Then agai
they stir up the bottom in search of bal
I and the water presents muddy appear
' ance for considerable distance arount
r In this way the river is kept almost co,
r tinually stirred up, 80 that people Twin
3 long tho banks are complaining Of Il
e quality of the drinking water.
= What this marvellous increase In cal
q $ going to result in is question that
!, :oubling some people. Other fish il
reduced into waters where they do NJ
;elong have frequently multiplied SO ra
= lilly as to die off by the thousands Il
q want of nourishment, and have th1
d caused disease, their rotting carcass
i. hcing exposed to the action Of the 81
$ and the water. If Is feared that this W
e lie tho case with the carp, and many
r the residents along tho Passaic river a
a talking about joining the Knownothil
q party and putting nothing but Americ;
o fish on guard.
y Anglers having tried the carp al
= found them wanting in gamy qualitie
. :, concluded that their introduction won
/ ne good thing for the bass and pickert
e who, it was thought, would relish Il
carp to feed upon. But the bass arc t
le intensely American to have taste +
IS carp, and they let them severely alol
k and look for other food. Fishing I
bass and pickerel is just as good as it b
: been for years, and the carp do not see
20 have interfered with the food supp
Of other fish. Catching carp is a novel
to an angler, but he soon tires cf it, al
VI the result is that they arc being let alon
Of and when caught by accident they a
ar generally thrown back into the waite
" The carp, consequently, have everythil
:, their own way, and are continuing
y multiply until they threaten to take ral
II II among the fishes which the English spa
~ row occupies among the birds Of Il
" country.-New York Herald.