308 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



and simple diet, it was more desirable for pond cultivation. Several 

 of these replies (Nos. 100, 101, 140, 177, 1815) indicate that scale carp 

 are received more favorably than leather carp, while none speak of 

 leather carp as superior to the scaled variety J* ^*^JJ ~j 

 narisons with other fish, all but six (Nos. 141, 144, 140, lol, 159, lbb) 

 „? ace carp ahea d of the fish with which they compare them. The reports 

 coverthe same wide range of territory as those in the preceding groups; 

 here as in the previous divisions, however, Maryland furnishing the 

 laro-er number. The earliest distributions of carp were made to this 

 State, probably on account of its proximity to Washington 



4 CRITICISMS AS TO SOFTNESS OR MUDDY TASTE.-I llder this head 



are' gathered 10 reports, a part of which speak of the carp as tasting 

 muddy, and part alluding to their softness. Under other heads, No 144 

 s peaks of an "earthy taste," and Nos. 187 and 213 testify that soaking 

 in salt water removed this taste. It may also be stated that removing 

 the fish from a muddy pond, in which they would necessarily partake 

 somewhat of the nature of their food, to a tank or tub of fresh watei 

 for a week, would very largely purify their systems. Carp is no excep- 

 tion to the rule that the flesh of animals will be affected by their food, 

 but fish are exceptional in the ease with which this difficulty may be 

 overcome. Manv who have spoken of carp as being soft have betraj ed 

 their ignorance of the fact that the flesh of all fish becomes soft and 

 unsuitable for food during, and for a time after, spawning. Some of 

 these correspondents have stated the time of the year when they ate 

 their carp, thus conclusively proving this hypothesis ^* c ^f te £ 

 tion is called, in this connection, to Nos. 30, 181, 100, 101, 102 103. In 

 reo-ard to No. 104, it can only be said now that the water of the tank in 

 which the gentleman kept his carp must in some way have become con- 

 taminated and have imparted its iujuriousness to the carp. It is in- 

 tended, however, to make a special investigation of this case, to ascer^ 

 tain what the contamination consisted in. While some have spoken of 

 the sweet taste of carp (Nos. 55, 130, 180, 222), only Mr. Epes has ob- 

 iected to them as "too sweet" or "sickening. 1 ' 



5 Other uncomplimentary REPORTS.-Of the 194 testimonies 

 above considered, none have presented unexplainable objections ex- 

 cept perhaps Mr. Epes. We now come to 10 testimonies, most of which 

 are lacking in particulars, in which are used such expressions as « noth- 

 in- extra," "unfavorable," "very poor," and, in three cases, "unfit to 

 eat" There is, however, nothing to contradict the supposition that 

 these people tried their carp in the spawning season, in which, as has 

 already been said, any fish is unlit to eat. The anonymous newspaper 

 Clipping, No. 204, well illustrates the exaggerations in which people 

 sometimes indulge when they know that they can conceal their names 

 6. The noNES.-Most people have given up the ridiculous hunt for a 

 fish without bones; but, while four (^-141 208 200 2 o mv^found 

 more bones than they liked in the carp, six (Nos. 136, 185, .0o, 20o, ^i, 

 I'll) found fewer bones than they expected. 





