540 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



In 1858 the varieties [of fishes] to be found in the waters of New Bedford were: 

 Fresh-water: Trout, perch (white, red, yellow), pickerel, chub, carp, silverfish, 

 minnow, hornpout, eel, clam. 



But as other evidence of the occurrence of the carp in Massachusetts 

 at that time is lacking, we must again conclude that the identification 

 was at fault. 



In 1842, however, the name of the carp appears in scientific literature, 

 being included by De Ka\- (pp. 188-190) in his list of the fishes of New 

 York. He remarks upon its introduction as follows (p. 189): 



I am not aware that any attempt has been made to introduce the carp into this 

 country previous to the year 1831, which, it will be t^een by the following letter from 

 Henry Robinson, esq., of Newburgh, Orange County [Xew York], was attended 

 with complete success, 



"I brought the carp from France in the years 183] and 1832, some 2 or 3 dozen at 

 a time, and generally lost one-third on the passage. I probably put into my ponds 

 6 or 7 dozen. They soon increased to a surprising degree, and I have now more than 

 sufficient for family use. I have not paid much attention to their habits, lint I have 

 noticed that they spawn twice a year; first about the middle of May, and again in 

 July. It is said in France that they spawn three times, but I have not observed it. 

 During the period of spawning, which lasts about ten days, it is very amusing to 

 watch their operations. They come up to the surface, and the females deposit their 

 spawn along the sides of the pond among the grass, where they are impregnated by 

 the males as they are emitted. During this process, they keep the sides of the pond 

 in a foam with their gambols, and it is not difficult at that time to take them with 

 your bands. They grow quickly, reaching 3 or 4 inches the first year, but after that 

 time their growth is very slow. The largest I have taken yet have not exceeded 10 

 or 11 inches, my ponds being too small for them to equal the size of those you see in 

 Europe. They are very shy of the hook; I generally bait with small pieces of fresh 

 bread, (of which they are very fond,) made up into small pills with the fingers, and 

 at the same time drop a small piece of bread into the water near the hook, when they 

 bite readily. My ponds are supplied by springs of pure and clear water, but they 

 keep the water in such a state that they cannot be seen at the bottom. 



"For the last four years past, I have put from 1 to 2 dozen carp every spring in the 

 Hudson river near my residence. They have increased so much that our fishermen 

 frequently take them in their nets. They are larger than those in my ponds." 



There are several other references in the literature to apparently 

 the same introduction. In the Transactions of the American Institute 

 (1851) for 1850, page 397, in a discussion before the Farmers' Club, 

 we find the following: 



Mr. Meigs. — We are pleased to see among us Captain Robinson, of Xew burgh, who 

 brought the Carp from England several years ago — thus conferring a great benefit 

 upon his country by adding a fish before that unknown in our waters. 



Captain Robixsox. — I brought the Carp from France about seven" years ago, put 

 them into our Hudson river, and obtained protection for them from our Legislature, 

 winch passed a law imposing a fine of 850 for destroying one of them. I put in Gold 

 Fish at the same time. Now some of these Carps will weigh 2 pounds, and seme of 

 the Gold Fish, which are a species of Carp, are quite large, some of them being pure 

 silvery white. Both kinds are multiplying rapidly.'' 



a There i here a discrepancy in the date. If, as Robinson says in his letter to De Kay (above), he 

 brought the carp to this country in 1831-32, seventeen years would come nearer to it than seven. 

 b This discussion is noted by E. E. Shears (1882). 



