220 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



In conclusion, we may mention that Yarrell introduced the aland into 

 his "History of British Fishes," in consequence of having heard that a 

 sing:le s])ecimen had been obtained at the mouth of the Nith. He does 

 not appear, however, to have seen the specimen, and the figure and de- 

 scription are borrowed from a work on Scaftdinavian fishes. 



REPORT OIV A TRIP I!V «ER:nANV TO SECtTRF CARP FOR THE UIVITEO 



STATES FflSM COMiTIHSSBON. 



ByDr. O. FirVSCH. 



Bremen, August 20, 1875. 

 Professor B aird : 



Having retnrned on the 18th from our trip to obtain fishes for you, I 

 hasten to give you a report. 



As I wrote you in my last letter of August 10 1 had decided to help in the 

 matter as much as I could, and in consequence offered my services to 

 arrange matters for Mr. Welsher. It was clear that a mere interpreter 

 was not sufficient, and that the subject needed a man acquainted with 

 the matter, and of ability to represent your interest. So I decided to 

 assist him myself, although my own work was in many res])ects pressing. 



I told yon in my last letter that there would be great difficulty in ob- 

 taining carp, as it is not theproi)er season, and I am glad to learn that 

 Mr. Hessel confirmed the statement. 



I remark, though perhaps I have referred to it before, that our amp 

 are cultivated in .ponds, and are not fished for earlier than about the 

 last of October or November. These ponds are partially emptied of the 

 water, and the carp gather in the deep places, where they are caught 

 "with hand-nets. As the carp spawn in July, the ponds are full of young- 

 fishes, or eggs in the process of hatching, and this is the reason why 

 the fish cultivators dislike to draw off the water, as it is apt to de- 

 stroy the newly hatched fish. Besides it does not answer to empty the 

 water during the hot weather, as the heat would then be very de- 

 structive to the fishes of all sizes.* 



As I wrote you in my letter, I had endeavored to ascertain where 

 there were smaller ponds that I might obtain a small number of each 

 of the chief varieties, the scaled carp {Ci/prmus carpio), the mirror 

 cari:) [C. rex-cypriuorum), and the naked car]) (C. nudus). Our principal 

 dilficulty was that but seldom were two of the kinds cultivated in any 

 one place, and we were obliged to go to different places. Now the 

 naked carp is chiefly raised in middle North Germany, the mii-ror carp 

 in South Germany, and the scaled (genuine) carp in North Germany, 

 (Mecklenberg, Holstein, &c.), in Bohemia and Silesia; the latter Jjeing 



*F()r this reason at this time of year the fish-ciiltivators will not sell carp even if 

 oiiered high prices. 



