The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-11-08
CARP NOT POPULAR.
They Thrive Well Enough, but Arc Not
Very Good to Eat.

They Thrive Well Enough, but Arc Not
Very Good to Eat.
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 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 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
ducc it into the market at Paterson and
the 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-
nounced them worse than the American
sucker, and nobody seemed anxious for
4 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 fcr. dozen
families. Carp boiled, stewed, flied and
fixed in different other ways was passed
about the neighborhood, but nobody
called for a. second plate. Than some
one suggested that the proper way to eat
it was with port wine sauce. The jury
returned verdict without leav iiig Their
seats that this was good way to spoil
port wine. 'tt
In the upper part of Passaic county
there were number of carp ponds. One
night q freshet swept them away and the
carp'got into tho 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 thcT are caught in
still larger numbers, and the average
weight has increased to over a pound,
al occasionally one weighing three OF
four pounds is caught. They haye been
caught weighing SIX or seven pounds,
but carp of this size are scarce.
The Passaio 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 a short time to catch a
large number. They will take a.wornl
/ Ike any common fish, but the largest
numter are caught on dough mixed with
cotton. Boiled peas make delicate bait,
and when boiled string beans are pre-.
sented to them the carp fairly jump with
delight.
After they are caught they are gener
ally thrown away, fed to the cats ol
used for manure. Very few people un
dertalle to eat them. In some places the
carp are so thick that, they can be seer
at times by the hundred. Then again
they stir up the bottom in search of bait
and the water presents a muddy appear
ance for considerable distance around
In this way the river is kept almost con
tinually stirred up, SO that people living
along the banks are complaining of tn,
quality Of the drinking water,
What this marvellous increase in carr
is going to result in is q question that i
troubling some people. Other fish in
troduced into waters where they DO 10
belong have frequently multiplied SO rap
idly as to die off by the thousands fo
want of nouyishment, and have thu
caused disease, their rott;ng carcasse
being exposed to the action Of the SUI
and the water. If is feared that this vii
he the case with the carp, and many o
the residents along the Passaic river ar
talking about joining the Knownothin
party and putting nothing bit American
fish on guard.
Anglers having tried the earn an
found them wanting in gamy qualities
concluded that their Introduction woul
be good thing for the bass and pickerel
who, 1t was thought, would relish til
carp to feed upon. But the bass are to
intensely American to have a taste 70
carp, and they let them severely alon
and look for other food. Fishing fo
bass and pickerel is just as good as 1t la
been for years, and the carp do not seer
to have interfered with the food suppl
of other fish, Catching carp is a novelt
to an angler, but he soon tires of it, an
the result is that they are being let alone
and when caught by accident they or
generally thrown back into the water
The carp, consequently, have everything
their own way, and are continuing t
multiply until they threaten to tale ran
among the fishes which the English spal
row occupies among the birds of thi
country. York Herald.