Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-22
THE CARP IS GOOD TO EAT.
A Fish That IL Worth Cultivating and
That Requires Very Little Care.


charleston, s. c.. News and Courier)
Our esteemed correspondent at Summer
ton derived very false impression from
what we said on Saturday II he under
stood us making light either OF his fish
story" or his fsh-the 22-pound carp.
We had no occasion to doubt the stated
weight OF the fish, and desire no proof
beyond our correspondents assertion But
the weight mentioned Is a matter of some
Importance. and we treated 1t according
~. The American Cyclopaedla says that
the size Of carp varies usually from 1-2
to 21-2 feet, and their weight from /
to IS pounds" When the fish were in.
troduced into the United States, about
fifteen or twenty years ago. the United
States Fish Commissioner expressed the
opinion that they would develop larger
size and heavier weight in southern
waters. and the event has justified his
prediction. Several specimens caught In
Clarendon county. II Is noted, weighed
% pounds or more, and our correspondent
states that one which he measured was
lat least 80 inches long and 20 inches
around the thickest part Of the body"
and we assume that the fish was quite
small when he was imported into the
State, so that he has certainly attained
his extraordinary size and weight with
in fifteen or sixteen years This proves
that the conditions here are unusually
favorable for the cultivation Of this spe-
cies OF fish, and. IL they are tit for
the table, We should make the most of
them.
Our inquiries with regard to the Claren-
don carp were mainly directed TO the one
point whether they are good to eat,
about which there exists considerable
doubt, or, at any rate. about which the
public is poorly informed, and our corre-
spondent answers that question definitely
and emphatically. When fried, he says.
It Is "as nice fish as he ever ate" and
when stuffed and baked 1t is good" He
refers to number OF well-known gen.
tlemen, who were at the table with him
when the fish was served to sixteen peo-
pie, and all Of whom found it good. This
is to the purpose, and 1t is enough.
GOOD TO PROPAGATE.
The carp is good to eat" and. Is,
therefore, good to propagate and cult
vate and cook and eat in every part OF
the State. He should not be neglected
longer, and We do not understand why
he has been neglected so long in State
whose inland waters are so nearly bar
rem of other good fish. The carp, says
our correspondent, Is mot to be compared
with cats and eels." and people who have
so long been confined nearly 10 cats and
cells for iish-det should pay some atten-
ton TO carp culture. 1t will pay them.
As We have said before, fish that
grows nearly to the length of yard
and the weight OF twenty-five pounds III
a few years. withou. special care, ~
worth cultivating: and the carp requires
...e h. "a
They can be cultivated anywhere In the
State in small artificial ponds with muddy
bottoms, eat almost any soft vegetable
food. such as lettuce, and go without
foo. altogether for long periods in winter
They can be fed in large part from the
waste OF the table and kitchen, ana,
taking one consideration with another,
can probably be raised with less trou-
BILE and expense and disappointment than
chickens They do not have the pip
and "roup" and such things and lay
heap more eggs In q season. n medium
sized specimen will lay 10000 eggs, and
we suppose a twenty-five FOUNDER Will
lay million at least. 1t IL easy, there
fore, 10 keep up the stock" when IL IS
once started, and have some lett 10 start
ones neighbors in the business besides:
Moreover. IL carp lives from $50 10 40
have been found that were five feet long.
So they keep better than fowls or any
kind. or domestic animals either VINO
would think OF eating u hen or lamp
or beef. for instance, that was LOO years
old.
TENACIOUS OF LIFE.
And all the good points OF the carp have
not yet been mentioned. They are very
tenacious of life. and have been kept alive
for weeks out OF the water by wrapping
them in wet moss. Ice Is not always
readily obtainable in the country ana
when one catches few cats, or suckers,
or perch In one OF our mill-ponds, or
creeks, he Is under the necessity of cook
Ing them on the spot, or hurrying home
to dinner with his prizes, on penalty OF
having only his fun 10 show for his days
outing. Think what II means to be able
TO catch the carp one day, and be sure OF
having him for breakfast next morning,
without having to sit up and fan him all
night TO keep him cool.
We have done our part to advertise him
for the public benefit, and may dismiss
him here We think our correspondents
report OF the valuable character Of the
fish in Mr.. J. j. Ragin's lake Is of very
great interest and Importance to the reo-
pie of the State. and especially to the
farmers of the State. but must leave TO
them 10 apply the hint in their own time
and way. If at all We have brought out
the information that the carp In South
Carolina waters Is good TO eats in
fact fine table fish. lie is by far the
largest fresh-water fish that we have.
unless the sturgeon is included in that
category; there is no assignable limit to
his numbers when he is cultivated, and he
can be cultivated I'm almost any pond or
~ OIL
and less expense. He was reported to be
"adayntous fysshe, but scarce" in Eng
land SOD years ago. He is q dayntous