of fresh fish sent from the sea-board for 1,500 miles into 

 the interior, and Professor Baird, who was at the head 

 of the U.S. Fish Commission, determined to see if he could 

 introduce some fish that might answer as a good and 

 substantial food for the people of the interior who were 

 deprived of the fish of the ocean. He, therefore, sent to 

 Germany, and secured a quantity of German carp, which 

 he thought might be adapted to the inland waters. These 

 were imported at the Government's expense, kept in ponds, 

 and artificially propagated until a sufficient quantity had 

 been raised to warrant their distribution to the smaller 

 waters of the interior. As soon as the supply was 

 sufficiently large, the distribution began, and year after 

 year it had increased, until, at the close of 1882, German 

 carp had been introduced into upwards of 18,000 different 

 localities scattered over all portions of the United States. 

 It was at first considered doubtful whether these fish would 

 be suited to American waters, and it was therefore decidedly 

 desirable for the Government to undertake the experiment 

 of their introduction, for no private individual or company 

 would feel justified in hazarding their funds on such an 

 uncertain venture. He was happy to say that the efforts of 

 Professor Baird had proved successful beyond expectation. 

 The German carp were found to increase more in size in 

 the waters of Florida in eighteen months than they did in 

 their native waters in four years. Thus it was found possible 

 to introduce valuable food-fish into the inland waters of 

 America — and under that term he included mill ponds, and 

 the little ponds on the lands of the farmer — for many farmers 

 were now clearing the rubbish out of their little ponds, 

 and were sending to the Commission to obtain a supply of 

 carp which was given them gratuitously, and many were 

 now raising them successfully, frequently distributing the 



