XXXIX.-REPORT ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF CARP TO JULY 1, 

 1881, FROM YOUNG REARED IN 1879 AND 1880. 



By Ciias. W. Smiley. 



The carp which were imported from Germany by the United States 

 Fish Commission were placed by Mr. Eud. Hessel, who had accompa- 

 nied the shipment from Europe, in the Druid Hill Park ponds, at Bal- 

 timore, on the 26th of May, 1876. These consisted of 227 leather and 

 mirror carp and 118 scale carp.* In the spring of 1878 there were trans- 

 ferred to Washington 65 leather carp and 48 scale carp. These were 

 placed in the ponds which had meantime been prepared for them. The 

 carp which remained in Baltimore under the charge of Mr. T. B. Ferguson 

 spawned in 1878 but hybridized with gold-fish, and the young being 

 worthless were destroyed. The carp in the Washington ponds first 

 spawned in 1879, and over 6,000 young were reared for distribution.t 

 A similar number was reared at the Druid Hill ponds and these were 

 distributed largely to citizens of Maryland, who were informed that 

 they could apply in person at the park for the fish. The total number 

 of carp sent out in 1879 was 12,265, to over 300 persons in 25 States and 

 Territories. Among the • recipients were various State commissioners 

 who redistributed their fish. 



In 1880 the yield of young fish was very much larger, aggregating 

 66,165 carp for distribution. 



In anticipation of a supply of young carp, applications began to be 

 filed with the Commissioner as early as the fall of 1876. The records 

 show the earliest applications to have been as follows ; 



September, 1876, from B. B. Eedding, San Francisco, Cal. 

 October, 1876, from Hon. Simon Cameron, Harrisbnrg, Pa. 



The increase in applications during 1877, 1878, and 1879 is shown in 

 the following table : 



Tahle showing the number of carp applications filed with the United States Fish Commission 

 monthly during three years ending December 31, 1879, t 



Month. 



Janaary . , 

 FebrnaVy . 



March 



April 



May 



June 



-July 



1877. 1878 



1879. 



Month. 



Anffast 



September. 



October 



November . 

 December . 



Total. 



1877. 1878. 1879. 



22 



18 



144 



18 

 12 

 19 

 33 

 43 



* Report of the United States Fish Commission, 1877, p. 43. 

 t Eeport of the United States Fish Commission, 1879, p. xxxvi. 

 t Several of these applications were from State commissions for carp to redistribute, 

 and thus a much larger number of ultimate receipts is indicated. 



[1] . 943 



