430 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 
Genus Cyprinus Linnzus. 
The Carps. 
Cyprinus carpio Linnzus. 
PLATE 97. 
Carp. Mirror Carp. Leather Carp. 
A fish of large size distinguished from the gold fish chiefly by 
the presence of 4 barbels. 
It was originally introduced from the fresh waters of Central 
Asia, and to America as a food-fish usually in ponds. In domes- 
tication it has produced many varieties, principal among these 
are those with very large scales (mirror carp) and those which 
are scaleless (leather carp). It is usually considered a very 
poor food-fish, though perfectly at home in foul water and often 
found in muddy streams. Though living even in salt water and 
stagnant pools, its flesh is then inferior. When wounded they 
bleed profusely. The leather carp is said to be best for trans- 
portation. Though said to attain 90 pounds in weight, those 
in our limits seldom weigh more than a third of this. They 
feed largely on vegetable matter and take the hook readily with 
most bait. Spawning takes place in the spring. 
Cyprinus carpio EF. Smith, Proc. Linn, Soc. N. Y., IX, 1897, 
p. 28. 
Genus Carassius Nilsson. 
The Crucian Carps. 
Carassius auratus (Linnzus). 
PLATE 08. 
Gold Fish. 
This fish is, perhaps, too well known to need description. 
Originally a native of China and Japan it has been introduced 
into America and is now in many of our streams a permanent 
