BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 59 



not been taken from the woods, but from humid meadows, because the 

 moss from the woods contains too many insects. I also lay under the 

 gills of the fish a thin slice of apple or potato, so as to keep the gill- 

 covers moist and prevent them from becoming pasted together, which 

 would cause the fish to choke. When the weather is very hot 1 kill the 

 fish and lay them in large ox-bladders between pieces of ice. These 

 bladders 1 tie securely and pack them in a box filled with damp moss. 

 These boxes I send by mail. 



The carp is subject to a species of eruption, caused by the sting of an 

 insect. When suffering from this disease the carp does not look well 

 and does not fetch a good price. For a long time I searched in vain for 

 the cause of this diseavse, and only three years ago I succeeded in find- 

 ing it. This disease is caused by the circumstance that after a sud- 

 den thaw or violent rain storm the water feeding the pond becomes 

 very muddy, and this muddy water is the real cause of the eruption. 

 Our ancestors, who engaged in carp culture more than we do, knew this 

 very well ; and in all the ancient carp ponds I found at the place of in- 

 flux a side ditch for the purpose of drawing the turbid water from the 

 pond and carrying it outside of the dikes into the outflow canal. 



We have the following kinds of carp : 1. The common carp with yellow 

 scales, and the so-called silver car}) with whitish scales. Both these 

 kinds should be cultivated in muddy, stagnant waters (or sky ponds). 

 2. The mirror carp, for ponds with a rich supply of water. 3. The 

 <:^ilesia7i leather carp, for ponds which are fed not only by river or lake 

 water, but also by sirring water. 4. The Chinese gold carp (goldfish), 

 which should be placed in the smallest basins of the pits which have 

 been formed near our brick-works. We should not despise any sheet of 

 water, for it is the duty of every intelligent man to utilize every inch of 

 ground. Even these small fish, which so far have only been considered 

 as ornaments, will be of some use. 



In conclusion, I have to state that fish-culture is exceedingly remu- 

 nerative ; and that even the most intelligent farmer cannot compete with 

 us. We shall beat him by our results at every step, if we only take 

 care to work unitedly. 



IS.— ^METHODS OF PREPARII>€i FISiH-BLADDERS FOR ITIARKFT.* 



In a former article t directions were given for preparing fish-bladders 

 intended for isinglass or fish-glue. The bladders are also used as an 

 article of food, especially in Spain, Italy, the West Indies, and China, 

 either salted alone or salted and dried. The last-mentioned method of 

 curing it is the same as that employed in preparing klip-fish, either 



* " Tilvirkning af Sundmaver." From the Xorsk FisJ{entidetide,Yo\. V, No. 1, Bergen, 

 January, 1880. Translated from the Danish hy Herviax JacOBSON. 

 t See F. C. Bnlletiu, 1885, p. 295. 



