224 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



as I liave said before, I did not see the carji before they came to Bre- 

 men, as Avliile we were at the establishment they could not catch a single 

 one, so we trusted Director Kirscli, who said they were first-rate. 



Besides these two kinds of fishes, Mr. Welsher will bring with him 

 fifty hybrids between Cyprinus carpio (good rape) and C. auratus which 

 we will get, as I told you in my last letter, from Mr. Wagner, at Olden- 

 burg. 



This hybrid is a good one, grows to 4 to 7 pounds, has a fine flavor, 

 and will be a prolific species, as it has been crossed with fine carp. 



This is all I could do to procure you fish now, but I will be able in 

 November to send you fine first-rate carp of all varieties, as they can be 



carried then without a man to especially attend them. 



* . * * * * * * 



Yours, very truly, 



O. FINSCH. 



I received your letter of August 20, including Mr. Hess el's ; but letters 

 reach me here even if my imme is not correctly wantten, as I am well 

 known. So it was not necessary to send the letter again, though it was 

 cautious. 



I received after awhile some information from Director Kirsch, at 

 Wiesbaden, in regard to the goldorfe. They spawn in June and July, 

 depositing their eggs on roots and small twigs of trees, from which mate- 

 rial a wall is built across the pond, which measures, perhaps, 25 to 30 

 long and 15 to 20 l)road. As soon as the eggs are deposited the year- 

 old fishes nuist be removed, because they eat up the eggs themselves ; 

 this is an important fact. 



In regaixl to the transportation of carp, I think, after my experience, 

 they can be carried even in hot weather (as we were out the hottest day 

 of the whole year) if one has sufficient means to arrange things before, 

 as ice, fresh water, &c. The ride on the railway did not injure the fish 

 as the water had motion, but should be made only at night when it is 

 cool (our nights are cooler than in America); during the day they ought 

 to be kept quiet to refresh them. The worst part of it was not getting 

 the carp, for, I think, we could have brought them all in safety. 

 ' If you should want a supply of fine carp, I could procure you all three 

 kinds, but I ought to have complete instructions and power long enough 

 beforehand to make all preparation; then I would go myself to places 

 in Bohemia and Silesia when fishing commences in order to choose, my- 

 self, every specimen, so that you would get true carp. Naked and mir- 

 ror carj) are, as you know, only cultivated A^arieties and not genuine 

 species. Some pisciculturists prefer these carp as being more valuable, 

 but others consider them of less value, as they grow slowly and are not 

 good for propagation. 



The tench is a fish which I recommend you highly, bejng hardy and 



