J. PISCICULTURE AND THE FISHERIES. 431 



presence of the Commissioners of the State of California he 

 deposited 10,000 fish, in good condition, on the 26th of June. 

 From an examination of the Sacramento River, and of the 

 Pacific Ocean near its mouth, Mr. Green was of the opinion 

 that all the conditions necessary for the growth and persist- 

 ence of these fish in the Sacramento River were found there, 

 and that it was more than probable that in the course of 

 three years their presence would be made manifest up to the 

 head waters of the stream. New York Citizen, Bee. 16, 1871. 



CYPRINUS ORPUS AS AN ORNAMENTAL AND FOOD PISH. 



Dr.Kiersch, of Wiesbaden, presents very strongly the claims 

 of the Cyprinus or/us, of Linnaeus, as particularly adapted 

 for cultivation in the fresh-water streams of Europe. This 

 species the writer considers one of the most beautiful of its 

 kind, closely resembling the trout in its form, and possessing 

 every qualification necessary to give it a preference over all 

 fishes of its family. The fish is very rare in Europe, and, in- 

 deed, but for some effort in the line of artificial culture, it is 

 in great danger of dying out a catastrophe which, in view 

 of its many excellent qualities, would be very deplorable. 

 Unlike the carp and some other kinds of fish, this species 

 does not retire into holes and concealed places in the winter, 

 but remains throughout the entire season at the surface and 

 in plain sight of the spectators. In point of beauty this fish 

 is claimed to possess equal merit with the goldfish ; in fact, 

 it has this superiority, that while the latter is black when 

 young and only assumes the red color at the expiration of 

 the second year, the orph from its earliest period is an object 

 challen Grins; the admiration of the beholder. As an article 

 of food, this fish is said to possess many excellencies far be- 

 yond those of the majority of its class, and only inferior to 

 the trout in this respect. It has one advantage also, that of 

 being very tenacious of life, and being capable of being car- 

 ried to a great distance without injury. 



The orph will thrive in almost any water, and especially in 

 ponds and pools where trout could not exist ; and it is capa- 

 ble of resisting the influence of injurious substances which 

 sometimes unavoidably pollute streams. One reason for its 

 comparative immunity against destructive agencies lies in 

 the fact of its keeping almost entirely on the surface of the 



