740 



SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 



the Crucian Carp ;i^radually degenerates, and after some 

 generations assumes the form descrihed above under the 

 name of the I'oiid Crucian Cai-]i. 'i'his form never oc- 

 lairs in lakes or sucli localities as were first mentioned 

 as the favourite haunts of the species. There only the 

 Lake Crucian Car)) is met with; but if specimens of this 

 variety be put in a small tish-))ond, in the course of 

 some years tlie poii<l will lie found to contain Crucian 

 Carp of an intermediate form, difficult to refer to either 



among the weeds nearer the shore. When it ascends 

 towards the surface, which seldom happens except when 

 the heat of the sun entices it forth, it is however shy, 

 and takes to flight at any noise. It then makes straight 

 for the bottom, and there seeks a safe refuge, from 

 which it is not easy to unearth. Its movements in the 

 water are often active and speedy, though the\ lack 

 endurance. 



The spawning-season occurs in spring and summer. 



variety, and at a still later period only Pond Crucian Carp. \ some days earlier or later according to the situation of 



These two forms are consequently not distinct spe- 

 cies, as was long assumed on Block's authority. It is 

 probable, however, that the Crucian Carp does not de- 

 generate \vith equal rajjidity ever^'where, but that the 

 course of degeneration is arrested at an earlier or later 

 stage, according to the nature of the water and the 

 su])ply of food. Small |)Ools ai-e, at all events, often 

 inhabited by the said intermediate forms, which seem 

 to have lived and multiplied there for a long time 

 without further transformation. 



Tliat the I'ond Crucian Carji resumes its original 

 form, is shown bj- the fact that if a few small speci- 

 mens of this variety be placed in a large pond, ^vhere 

 the supply of food is abundant, they soon acquire the 

 intermediate form. But when they have been alloAved 

 to nniltijih to any great extent, so that food is scarce, 

 and the pond overstocked, they revert to the normal 

 form of the Pond Crucian Carp. Furthermore, we have 

 aetual evidence to show that specimens of the Pond 



the water where tiie hsh has its home. In Central 

 Sweden the Crucian Car|j spawns in June, about mid- 

 summer, when the weather is warm and tine. The lish 

 then ascend to shallow water near shore. Here they 

 spawn among the weeds, assembling in dense shoals 

 and circling rapidly round each other, now and then 

 raising their snouts abo\e the surface, where each fish 

 leaves a bubble that bursts with a faint sound. A 

 murmuring hubbub, like the noise of boiling water, is 

 thus produced. The roe is deposited at the l)ottom on 

 the weeds, to which it adheres, and is soon hatched 

 ^v■hen the weather is favourable. The fry do not grow 

 very rapidly, but soon reach maturity. This faculty 

 of early reproduction, combined with the comparatively 

 large size of the ovaries and the smallness of the eggs, 

 their diameter, when deposited, being only slightly more 

 than 1 ram., as well as their great number (100,000 

 — 300,000 in each female), renders the Crucian Carp 

 extremely jn-olitic. The duration of the spawning- 



Crucian Carp, which have been transferred to lakes, season is protracted, in this sjjecies as in others, by 

 have at length Ijeen restored to the original form of I the older fish spawning first, the younger ones later in 



the Lake variet}'. In a small lake in Sodermanland 

 Ekstrom found large Lake Crucian Carj), the progeny 

 of Pond Crucian Carp which, according to the state- 



the 3ear. But the erroneous supposition that thci Cru- 

 cian Carp spawns several times a year, has arisen from 

 the circumstance that during the months of July and 



ments of trustworthy persons still living at the time, j August, when the weather is calm and fine, these fishes 



had been taken 40 or 50 years previously from a neigh- 

 bouring pond still inhabited by the latter variety. 



Ekstroii elucidated this (|uestion in the Proceedings 

 of the Swedish Academy of Science for the year 1838; 

 and at the present time his ojiinion on the subject is 

 almost universally accepted. 



shoal in exactly the same manner as when they are 

 spawning. 



The Crucian Carp is a glutton, and lives on insects, 

 worms, water-plants, and mud. The flesli ranks as a 

 delicacy, but its reputation depends principally on the 

 skill of the cook. Large Crucian Carp, taken in clear 



The Crucian Carp is very sluggish in temperament, I water, are best and by no means bad eating: but small 

 never undertaking any long excursions, and always specimens from muddy lakes always have a more or less 

 staying near its birthplace, unless compelled by fortui- 



tous circumstances to change its abode. This innate 

 distaste for active motion deprives it of any great ti- 



tainted flavour, and their flesh is also bony. 



The Crucian Carp is extremely tenacious of life. 

 In lakes and ponds where the bottom freezes, it can 



raidity and renders it oblivious of danger, as it hides survive the winter, and after being kept frozen for a 

 in the ooze at tiie bottom, Avhere the water is deep, or long time, ma\- l)e restored to life by cautiouslv thawing 



