FISHES OF COLORADO 35 



greenish yellow. Size large, reaching a length of over 30 inches and a weight of 

 50 pounds, average adults 5 to 8 pounds, those raised in ponds usually heavier. 



"German" Carp is a native of Central Asia but was introduced into Europe 

 centuries ago, probably before 1300. It was first brought to the United States 

 in 1872 and to Colorado in 1882. In the Report of the United States Fish Commis- 

 sion for 1884 are numerous signed statements from citizens of Colorado concerning 

 the care given this fish and its success in this state. These accounts are quite 

 interesting in view of the general disfavor into which the Carp has fallen. This 

 fish is now found in each of the principal river systems of the state and is quite 

 abundant in many ponds and lakes. Not only is it well established in Colorado 

 but also throughout the United States. The artificial propagation of this species 

 has been discontinued and by many its introduction is regarded as a serious mis- 

 take. The Carp question has been discussed at length by Cole,' who concluded 

 that the damage done by the carp is about offset by its value. The carp eat the 

 spawn of other fishes and uproot the aquatic vegetation near shore which forms a 

 refuge for young fishes and contributes to the food of the aquatic game birds. The 

 young carp, on the other hand, are eaten by the bass, crappies and sunfish, as well 

 as by snakes and aquatic birds. 



Cyprinus carpio is a herbivorous or omnivorous feeder, preferring warm 

 sluggish water. Under fair or favorable conditions it grows very rapidly and 

 despite the general prejudice against this fish its flesh is marketable. Forbes^ 

 states that several million pounds having a value of several hundred thousands 

 of doUars are taken annually in Illinois. 



The German Carp spawns in the latter part of May and through June, the 



eggs being deposited near shore where they adhere to weed stems and debris. 



The remarkable rapidity with which this species has become established in the 



United States is the result of its general hardiness and the enormous number of 



eggs produced — a single female spawning about 500,000 eggs — and the rapid rate 



of growth. The carp eggs hatch in about two weeks and by the end of the first 



summer the young are five inches or more in length. A year-old carp weighs on 



an average three-quarters of a pound, and under favorable conditions even more. 



In ponds where conditions have been optimum this fish has been known to reach 



a weight of four pounds in two years. 



Colorado specimens. — University Museum: Rio Grande, Alamosa, July 27, 191 2 (mirror, 

 20 specimens, 70-130 mm., No. 272; scaled, 50 specimens, 35-130 mm., No. 271), M. M. Ellis; 

 Grand River, Grand Junction, August 7, 1912 (137 specimens, 30-70 mm. scaled; mirror, i speci- 

 men, 60 mm.), J. Henderson and M. M. Ellis, No. 326; Boulder Lake, Boulder, October 16, 1913 

 (3 specimens, 60-140 mm.), M. M. Ellis, No. 327; Colorado Stale Historical and Natural History 

 Museum: Denver, August 18, 1900 (160 mm.), W. C. Ferril; Denver, April 19, 1902, A. H. Felger; 

 Barr Lake, Adams County, March 16, 1906 (180 mm., from the stomach of American Merganser, 

 Merganser americanus [Cass.]); Slate Teachers' Museum: Lakes near Greeley (large specimens), 

 A. E. Beardsley. 



■ Repl. U.S. Fish Com. for 1904, pp. 525-641, 1905. 



' Forbes and Richardson, Ichthyology of Illinois, pp. 108-109, 1909. 



