THE GERMAN CARP IN THE UNITED STATES. 637 



seems that the market for carp may in the future be further developed 

 have been pointed out and discussed in the section dealing with its 

 food value and uses. 



In another place was mentioned the possible amusement and recrea- 

 tion to be had in taking carp with hook and line. I am aware that 

 the American sportsman will scoflf at the very idea, and would regard 

 the pastime with disdain. I wish merely to quote in its defense a para- 

 graph from Goode's American Fishes (Goode, 1888, p. 412), in which 

 he treats of the strenuousncss of the average American angler: 



There is a kind of pleasure known to English anglers which is cultivated by but 

 few of those who are called by the same name in America — the quiet, peaceful delight 

 of brook-fishing in the midst of the restful scenery of the woods and the meadows. 

 It is difficult to imagine a thorough disciple of Walton chumming for striped-bass in 

 the surf at Newport or trolling for Muskellunge among the Thousand Islands, drail- 

 ing for Blue-fish in the Vineyard Sound, or tugging at a tarpum-line in the Gulf of 

 Mexico. The muscular exertion, the excitement, the flurry and noise, make such 

 sports more akin to the fiercer pursuits of hunting than to the contemplative man's 

 recreation. The wisest, best and gentlest of anglers, those who have made the lit- 

 erature of angling akin to poetry, have not, as a rule, preferred to make a violent 

 exercise of their fishing. 



Nothing has been said in the present report about protection for the 

 carp in open waters, since, whatever may be the opinion as to the fish's 

 desirability, protection for it does not seem to be needed. I am of 

 the opinion, however, that the phenomenal increase of the carp in 

 those waters where it has been longest will soon reach its maximum, 

 if it has not already done so, and that as the various factors become 

 adjusted a more stable balance will be reached. It is conceivable that 

 then persistent fishing may greatly reduce its numbers. 



And now, should I attempt to sum up the principal results of the 

 investigation in a single paragraph, I should sa}^ that, whereas the carp 

 undoubtedly does considerable damage, from the evidence at hand it 

 seems reasonable to conclude that this is fully offset by its value as a 

 food fish and in other ways; that it can not be exterminated, and that 

 the problem is how to use it to the best adv^antage — suggestions for 

 which have been offered. Efforts should be directed to encourage 

 utilization of the fish in all ways possible, since it appears to be a 

 resource as yet comparatively undeveloped. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. 



The following list contains very few titles besides those referred to in the report. 

 References to papers dealing with carp which have been published in the Reports 

 and Bulletins of the United States Fish Commission up to February, 1896, in the 

 pubhcations of the National Museum to 1883, and in the Teniih Census will be found 

 in the lists given by Smiley (1883) and Scudder (1896). 



Anonymous (1877). Carp for our waters. Forest and Stream, vol. 7, p. 341. 



(1880). The carp-fisheries in the Peitz Lakes. Report U. S. Fish Com- 

 mission for 1878, pp. 675-678. (Die Karpfenflscherei in den Peitzer Teichen. 

 From a Berlin daily paper. Translated by H. Jacobson. ) 



