44* EErORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



iiig business by the sale of fish for breeding purposes. Mr. Poppe ha^ 

 kiudly sent me some specimens of his fish. These are scale carp, ap- 

 parently somewhat hybridized ; at least, they do not in*esent the char- 

 acteristics of the pure breed brought by Mr. Hessel. Information in 

 regard to any other experiments in this direction will be gladly recei\'ed, 

 especially if accompanied by si)ecimens of the fish for the identifica- 

 tion of the variety. 



The Eiiropean Tench (Tinea rttlffaris). 



Fully appreciating the tenacity of life of the tench, and the readi- 

 ness of its acclimatization in foreign waters, as shown by the prodigious 

 success of experiments with it m Australia, I requested Mr. Hessel, on 

 his return from the last trip to Europe, to bring with him as large a num- 

 ber as possible ; and these have also been jjlaced in Druid Hill Park. 

 The especial value of this fish is in the fact that as the water in a given 

 l)ond dries uj) or flows off, it buries itself in the mud, and if this is kept 

 sufficiently moist it will remain in perfectly good condition, while, perhaps, 

 the grouudaboveit may become hard and parched, requiring only the re- 

 turn of the water to its bed to permit its emergence. Indeed, it is said 

 that in some places when the pond is dry and the fish is needed, it is 

 dug out like j)otatoes from a hill. Tlie fish will be distributed together 

 with the carp, as there is nothing incomx)atib]e in their occui)ying the 

 same waters. 



A few special varieties of what is known ns the golden tench were ob- 

 tained, and will be propagated ; but they have no special value beyond 

 their abnormal color. 



The Golden Ide {Idus melanotus var. auratus). 



A large cyprinoid fish in Germany, known as Idus melanot'^s, attaining 

 sometimes a weight of three or four pounds, lias, within a few years past, 

 been develoi)ed into a golden or red variety, corresponding with that of 

 the gold-fish, but much more beautiful in shape and larger in size. As 

 comi^ared with the gold-fish it has the merit of swimming about on the 

 surface of the water, and being more active in its movements. Mr. 

 Hessel brought with him on the trip just referred to, a large number of 

 the ides, the increase from which will also be distributed in due course 

 of time. 



The Sea Herring (Clujjca dongata). 



The question of the j)ropagation of the sea herring {Clupca clonr/ata) 

 is one of considerable economical importance, although less prominent 

 in this country than in Europe, as its capture does not occupy so large 

 a part of the American fisheries. Here its most important application 

 is as fresh bait for cod, halibut, &c. The fact that herring eggs are very 

 adhesive, and attach themselves firmly to all objects which they touch, 

 makes it impossible to apply the same methods as with the salmon and 

 the shad, the eggs of which are non-adhesive to each other or to other 



