BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. D35 



yet many persous who are cultivating carp declare them equal to any 

 fish they ever tasted. If carp are grown in muddy or polluted water 

 their flesh, like that of any other animal, will be impregnated thereby. 

 But the carp may be removed to pure water for a week during which 

 the system will be purified, and at the end of which even these will be 

 good eating. Some have alleged that salting such over night will 

 greatly improve the flavor. During and immediately after the spawn- 

 ing season adult carp, like all other fish, become soft and unfit to eat. 

 Some persons have ignorantiy tasted of them at this season, and have 

 therefrom very unjustly condemned them. Carp contain bones, of 

 course, but in the adult the flesh flakes off from the boues very nicely. 

 Even in the small ones tbe bones are no more objectionable than in the 

 average fish. 



4. The method of distribution. — Several breeding ponds have 

 been fitted up at Washington from the so-called Babcock lakes and 

 from extensions into the Potomac marsbes. These will present a very 

 picturesque appearance, in addition to their usefulness, after the recla- 

 mation of the Potomac flats. These ponds are constantly watched by 

 their superintendent, Mr. Bud. Hessel and his assistants, who have 

 abundant facilities for destroying enemies, draining the ponds, sup- 

 plying fresh water, food &c. At the proper season, which extends 

 from October 15 to January or February, the young are sent out by one 

 of two methods: first, they are put in five and ten gallon cans of water 

 and loaded in the cars of the Fish Commission, of which there are two 

 fitted up with suitable appliances for carrying all kinds of fish. These 

 cars, which present an outward appearance of pai lor cars, are dispatched 

 on passenger trains to central points in all the different States of the 

 Union, where installments may be delivered to State fish commission- 

 ers or the carp treated by the second method. Second, a quart pail 

 containing a pint of water and 15 to 20 carp can be sent by express to 

 any distance which will not require more than 36 to 48 hours, or even 

 further, if the water can be changed meantime, always provided that 

 water enough remains in the pail to cover the backs of the fish. Most 

 of the States of the Union have appointed State commissioners, who 

 receive installments from the United States Fish Commission and dis- 

 tribute them to applicants within their jurisdiction. Many of them have 

 also established propagating ponds, in which they are already produc- 

 ing young by the thousands and tens of thousands. Some private 

 speculators have received carp from the United States Fish Commis- 

 sion, reared young, and are now selling them at speculative rates. The 

 price list of one of these gentlemen states that he will sell mirror carp 

 ten months old at $75 per hundred, scale carp ten months old, at $70 

 per hundred. Large fish are even sold at five dollars a pair, and would 

 perhaps be sold at higher rates were it not for the fact that the United 

 States Fish Commission furnishes its small fish free of cost. The ex- 

 press charges constitute the only expense to the recipient. 



