CYPRINUS THE CARP 105 



1 , 1 or 2, 3-3, 1 or 2, 1 ; intestine longer than body ; peritoneum gray, often 

 more or less specked. Dorsal and anal fins each with a large strong pos- 

 teriorly serrated spine ; dorsal ravs 17 to 2 1 , the base of the fin longer than 

 the head, the spine and first three rays higher than the posterior part of 

 the fin, as in the buffaloes, insertion of dorsal slightly in front of ventrals; 

 anal rays 5 or 6; pectorals reaching nearly to front of ventrals, 1.3 to 1.5 

 in head; ventrals scarcely g to vent. Scales 5 or 6, 35 to 37, 5 or 6; 

 lateral line continuous, usually somewhat flexuose. 



The above description is based on specimens of scale-carp only ; 

 the mirror and leather varieties, differing from the scaled forms 

 chiefly in the squamation, are comparatively rare in the waters of 

 this state. 



The carp, which is native in China, was introduced into Europe 

 as early as 1227 (Hessel), and was first brought to England at the 

 beginning of the sixteenth century. The first successful introduc- 

 tion of carp into the United States was made in 1877, when R. 

 Hessel, for the U. S. Fish Commission, brought 345 carp to this 

 country. Of these, 227 were of the mirror and leather varieties, and 

 118 were scale-carp. All were put into ponds at Washington, D. C, 

 and multiplied rapidly, more than 12,000 young being distributed in 

 1879 to more than 300 persons in 25 states and territories. From 

 that time distribution rapidly increased until a few years before its 

 final discontinuance in 1897. 



The introduction of carp into the waters of Illinois began with 

 the first distribution (1879), and in 1880 scaled carp to the number 

 of 800 were received from the U. S. Fish Commission. In 1881 and 

 1882 a total of 2,500 more carp were received and distributed by the 

 Illinois Fish Commission, the distribution being mostly made in 

 lots of only ten to a single person. In 1885 the first carp were 

 planted in public waters, a total of 30,900 being set free in the Illi- 

 nois, Fox, Sangamon, Des Plaines, Kaskaskia, Little Wabash, Big 

 Muddy, and a few other streams. In 1886 the first large carp was 

 caught in the Illinois River, a specimen 30 inches long being taken 

 at Meredosia — probably escaped from some pond which had re- 

 ceived a consignment from one of the early distributions. In 1887 

 about 16,000 more carp were planted in the public waters of the 

 state. Between 1888 and 1890 reports of the capture of carp of 

 considerable size increased in number, particularly from points 

 along the Illinois River, and by 1892 this fish had multiplied to such 

 an extent in the w^aters about Havana that more than 3 ,000 lb were 

 taken from Clear Lake in a single haul. A year earlier Bowles had 

 begun to ship carp from Meredosia. By 1898 the multiplication and 



