BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 29 



of aquatic plant, consequently it contributes more toward purifying the 

 water by the large amount of oxygen supplied it, and carbon absorbed 

 from it, which is so important to pure water and healthy animal life in 

 confinement. (See Case's Botanical Index, page 8.) We fear that its 

 rapid growth renders it too uncontrollable in small ponds, but such 

 luxuriance of development well suits it to large lakes, where the ama- 

 teur will experience much pleasure in watching its triumphant progress 

 over the waters. 



4. Nelumbium lutcum. — There is a strange grandeur and an exquisite 

 beauty about this plant which excite the admiration of all romantic lov- 

 ers of flowers, a sweet lovliness about them which creates a desire to 

 possess and cultivate some of them. All water lillies are lovely, but 

 this one is gorgeous. The flowers are a light canary color, varying 

 from light to pink, and often five inches in diameter, and exquisitely 

 fragrant. The seed receptacle, like the flowers standing out of the wa- 

 ter, is a flat, circular surface, and constitutes the base of an inverted 

 cone, which is perforated with holes for the accommodation of the nuts. 

 These are the water chinquepins. " The root contains a large percent- 

 age of mucilaginous and farinaceous matter, and is said to be one of the 

 best known native vegetables for food." (See Botanical Index, page 

 77.) " The tubers are farinaceous and edible." (See Gray's Manual of 

 Botany, page 56.) We are apprehensive, also, that the plant would 

 not suit small lakes on account of its rapid growth ; it might fill them 

 up with roots ; but give it the great lakes of Texas, and we vouch for 

 its success and its sublime developments m yielding food and shelter. 



5. The Nasturtium officinallis, or Cress. — This is a favorite fish salad for 

 the table of the Cyprinse. They devour it greedily. " They are partic- 

 ularly fond of water cresses and other juicy plants." (See Dr. Hessel in 

 American Agriculturist, where he teaches us that carp fish can hear.) 

 Plant the cress hard by the edge of the lake, and it will send its limbs 

 far out in the water. 



6. Zizania aquatica, or Water Bice. — This grass produces many slender, 

 linnear seeds, which are farinaceous and well suited to water. When 

 alone it flourishes. It grows in shallow water, which is always found 

 around well-constructed ponds. " The luxuriant water oat should be 

 planted in every pond devoted to carp culture. These plants yield 

 great quantities of seed, of which the fish are extravagantly fond." (See 

 Calhoun, in the Southern Stock Journal, vol. G, No. 21, in which he 

 calls it Zinania aquatica, or Water Oat), which shows, at least, that he 

 was striking at the same thing. 



7. Typha laUfolia, or Water Mace. — This is a grand marsh or aquatic 

 herb with nerved, linear, sessile leaves. The flowers and fruit are ele- 

 vated on a dense cylindrical spike, terminating the stem, at least six 

 feet above the roots, but sometimes ten feet. It will grow in water per- 

 haps six feet deep. Its small nutlets fall into its native water and 

 germinate in the mud at the bottom. All seeds during the process of 



