18 MARINE AND FISHERIES 



5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 

 Genus Cyprinus. 



Cyprinus carpio, Linnaeus. 



(German carp) 



Abundant in the swamp waters of the southeastern end of Matchedash Bay, 

 and reported as occurring elsewhere along the south and west shores of Georgian 

 Bay. Very few specimens, in all probability stragglers, are reported by fishermen 

 from any locality along the eastern and northern shores. It appears that the swamps 

 of the Archean part of the shore are not suitable for the development of this species, 

 which condition if true will be fortunate for the conservation of black bass and 

 other game fishes in this region. It may be, however, that the carp is so recent an 

 arrival in these waters that is has not had time to become distributed. 



Specimens taken at Waubaushene by Capt. C. J. Swartman were chiefly of 

 the scaled variety, but some were mirror carp, with a few large scales, and the 

 naked or leather variety is said to be sometimes taken. The mud and sand areas 

 of this part of Georgian Bay undoubtedly provide a suitable environment for the 

 species, after the manner of sedimentary swamp lands elsewhere. Specimens of 

 10 lbs. and over are commonly taken. 



Regarding the introduction of this fish into Georgian Bay waters, the general 

 opinion is that the carp of Matchedash Bay gained access to this water through the 

 Severn River. They are reported to have appeared in numbers about twelve years 

 ago, at which time the fish were all small specimens of about 10 inches in length. 

 Carp inhabit the head waters of the Severn River, Lake Simcoe, in large numbers, 

 and the'stock of this lake is thought to have been derived from specimens formerly 

 kept in a pond near Newmarket. From this pond specimens are supposed to have 

 escaped into the Holland River and thence into Lake Simcoe. It will be re- 

 membered, however, that the carp has had abundant opportunities to become 

 distributed throughout the Great Lakes, and possibly those of the southern part 

 of Georgian Bay gained access to the waters from another direction. 



In the years from 1875 to 1879, the United States Fish Commission made sever- 

 al importations of German carp, with the object of stocking American waters with 

 a type of fish that would thrive in waters unsuitable for other fishes and provide 

 an abundant cheap food supply for the masses of the people. The carp were suc- 

 cessfully bred, and were distributed in large numbers in successive years from 1880 

 to 1896. Between the years 1880 and 1893 several lots of carp were sent to ap- 

 plicants in Canada, including Mr. Samuel Wilmot, the Ontario Commission, and 

 certain private individuals. In Ontario, the fish appear to have gained access to 

 public waters chiefly through accidents to private ponds in which they were kept. 



The carp has been greatly condemned on several scores, some of which un- 

 doubtedly have a strong basis of fact. It is a bottom-living form, and produces 

 considerable havoc in swamps, making the water muddy and rooting up aquatic 

 plants in search of the minute molluscs which form its staple food. It is accused of 

 polluting the water, of eating the spawn of other fishes, of driving game fishes away. 



