THE FISHERY INTERESTS OF AUSTRIA. Gl£ 



been accustomed, by artificial culture, &c, numerous varieties of them 

 have been produced. 



The common carp, (Cgprinus carpio,) for centuries the fish belonging 

 to our civilization, loves sluggish water, with a marshy bottom. Dur- 

 ing the spawning season, May and June, it retires to warm, brackish 

 waters, which are exposed to the sun. The females, while surrounded 

 by the male, paste their eggs to water-plants. A medium-sized female 

 carp is supposed to produce annually 200,000 to 250,000 eggs. In lakes, 

 they reach a weight of 5 to 6£ pounds in three years. All vegetable 

 and animal kitchen-refuse, agricultural and economical products of little 

 value, the refuse of slaughter-houses, &c, supply a welcome food for 

 them, if it is given to them in small soft pieces, so that they ca.n easily 

 grasp it with, their toothless mouth and swallow it. 



In some countries carps form an important article of trade, and are 

 shipped to a great distance. In Austria, the " Danube carp " was once 

 a favorite and cheap food of the common people ; but, by the neglect 

 of years, and by the reckless plunder of the tributaries of this noble 

 river, once so rich in fish, their number has decreased very much. 



The so-called mirror-carp, with disproportionately large scales ; the 

 leather-carp, which has no scales at all ; and others, are only varieties 

 of one and the same species. The barren carp, called " Laiinar" in South 

 Germany, and " Gelte carp " in North Germany, which is mentioned 

 by Aristotle, and by him counted among the best fish, is also in our 

 days highly esteemed on account of its tender flesh. 



In Oarniolia, the two varieties of the carp called "Alant" and "Je- 

 ses" are very much esteemed. 



The crucian (Carassius vulgaris) usually weighs about 2 pounds, and 

 is found all through Central Europe. Like the carp, it is cultivated, and 

 its flesh is much esteemed. 



The tench (Tinea vulgaris) has a yellowish-green color, and is a lazj r 

 fish, which is found in most parts of Europe in rivers, lakes, ponds, 

 and clayey marshes. It can easily be shipped, and in clayey ponds 

 which are too poor for other fish it can be cultivated with great profit. 

 The barbel (Barbus fluviatilis) grows rapidly, usually weighs 10 to 12 

 pounds, and is frequently caught with a so-called Pater-noster line. 

 The roe of the barbel when eaten causes vomiting and diarrhoea. 



The bream (Abramis brama) lives in lakes, gently-flowing rivers, 

 ponds, and marshes. It is caught in large numbers with seines. In the 

 spring of 1858, from 24,700 to 37,050 pounds of bream were in one day 

 caught near Ermattingen on the Lake of Constance. 



The bleak, (Albumus lucidus,) called " Uckelei" in North Germany, is 

 found in all the running and standing waters of Central Europe with the 

 exception of mountain lakes and streams. From their scales, the so- 

 called essence cVorient is prepared, by which glass beads are made to 

 sparkle almost like the genuine oriental pearls. 

 Numerous other fish, besides the above mentioned, mostly designated 



