Biological Sur\^y — Genesee River 55 



lished in the lower waters of some of the larger tributaries, siieh 

 as Dyke's creek (Allegany county), in Black creek (Monroe 

 county) and in the lakes, especially Conesus lake. Below Roch- 

 ester carp are abundant in the Genesee river during the spawning 

 season in June and at that time run up from Lake Ontario into 

 the marshes near the mouth of the river. 



hi spite of this wide distribution, carp can hardly be called 

 abundant in the Genesee region. The greater part of the river i.s 

 not well suited to this fish, which thrives better in sluggish, weedy 

 waters than it does in streams having a swift current. Probably 

 for this reason carp are rare in that part of the river above Letch- 

 worth Park. Above this section they have been found in several 

 long, sluggish pools near Belvidere (Allegany county). As the 

 Genesee river becomes larger and less rapid, below Mt. Morris, 

 carp become moderately common. It is often said to be very 

 abundant in Conesus lake, though few have been taken by oper- 

 ators of a licensed carp seine at Lakeville. 



There is a natural tendency to over estimate the abundance of 

 the carp. These fishes "school" in large numbers, especially at 

 the spawning season, and being in shallow water at that time are 

 often readily visible. The same number of fishes, when scattered 

 over a larger area, would give an observer a different impression 

 of the abundance of the species. The large, coarse-scaled red- 

 horse suckers which are common in the Genesee river are easily 

 confused with carp when seen in the water. Also, it is quite 

 probable, that the widespread agitation throughout the country 

 against carp may lead to exaggeration in particular cases. 



The claim, that carp uproot aquatic vegetation and muddy the 

 water, seems to have little importance in this reigon. Carp are 

 bottom feeders and may both loosen the roots of water plants and 

 cause roiliness of the water. L. J. Cole (1904) points out that 

 carp may be nuisances in reservoirs by causing turbidity of the 

 water. The Genesee river is often muddy, as are most rivers 

 flowing through open, cultivated land, whether or not they contain 

 carp. Conesus lake does not show any appreciable amount of 

 carp damage in the matter of roily water or of destruction to 

 plant growth. 



Persons sometimes make specific charges that carp eat other 

 fishes, and it is often stated that they destroy spawn and consume 

 food at the expense of better fishes. It is impossible for carp to 

 prey upon other fishes. The mouth is small and without teeth. 

 This point has been well demonstrated by Cole (1904), who states 

 that "the carp is obviously unadapted by structure for capturing 

 other fish for food." 



Authorities do not deny, however, that carp may take spawn of 

 other fishes when occasion presents. Indeed, Cole found that 

 three stomachs out of thirty-three examined contained whitefish 

 spawn. However, only one egg was present in each of the three 

 stomachs and this author concludes that the amount of wiiitefish 

 spawn consumed is insignificant. 



