376 NATURAL HISTORY OF HAWAII. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

 IXTRODrCED FRESH WATER FISH. 



(ioLDFlSH. 



Several attempts liave been made by private citizens to introduce well- 

 known food, game and ornamental fish into the Hawaiian Islands. One of the 

 earliest, if not the first attempt of this nature, resulted in introducing the 

 well-known goldfish ' into the streams, ponds and irrigation ditches of Oahu, 

 from whence they have been generally distributed to the other inhal)ited 

 islands of the group. The original stock of goldfish came from China, but 

 the date of the first shipment is not known. As early as 1867, however, they 

 were being exported to California, and from that time to the present they 

 have been abundant about Honolulu, and have contributed their share to the 

 ideal beauty of the streams and the pleasure of the young angler. Since the 

 original introduction some of the fancy varieties have been liberated at differ- 

 ent times, with the result that there is much variation in form and color among 

 the wild species. Goldfish are regularly offered for sale in the market in 

 Honolulu, but they are mainly eaten by the Chinese and Japanese. 



The goldfish is a native of China, and from there it was introduced into 

 Japan at an early date. From Japan they were carried to Europe in Kill, 

 and later to America, where many of the various artificial varieties that have 

 been in'oduced in China and Jajian are reared with great success by fanciers. 

 The rich golden color is found only in the dt)mesticated species, and is re- 

 taineil by artificial selection. The native fish are olivaceous in color, ami in 

 the ponds and ditches about Honolulu, as in China and Japan, tlicy readily 

 revert to that color. In the Orient several scoi'e of foi-nis have lieen produced 

 by patient selection and breeding. Eighteen forms of so-called toy goldfish 

 are known among the fanciers, each of them provided with a name based on 

 its origin, history, form or color. 



They are rather sluggish, hai-dy i-reatures tluit de\dur hii'ge (piaiitities of 

 mosquito larva^ from pools and fountains about the city. I'nfortinuitely. tlie 

 more recently introduced "mosquito fish'' are i-e()orted to feed on the eggs 

 and very young of the goldfish and iiiullct, as well as the mos(iuito larva^ and 

 till" young of the fresh-water shrinip. As a result, goldfish are not as plentiful 

 in our streams as they were formerly. 



C.\RP. 



Carp- were iiiti-oduced into the islands from Amei-ica some years ago. 

 The.\- were first planted in tlie iirigation ditches near Wailuku, and from there 

 M('!-e (list\'ib\ited to Hawaii and <)abu, and doubtless will be found on all the 

 islands. Tlicy are not niiicli used as food on account of thciv nniddy 

 tiavor and are onl\- usetl in the absence of liettfi' fish. They naturally 



^ Caragsitis niirfiti/s. " Cyprarnig rnrpiti. 



