REPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 153 



CARP. 



The wJwlesale trade in carp in New York City. — During the progress 

 of the canvass of the fisheries of New York City for the year 1901 Mr. 

 Cobb made inquiries respecting the trade in German carp. The item 

 of carp in the fish supply of the city is quite important, amounting to 

 6,906,950 pounds, vahied in New York at $197,451. While small quan- 

 tities are received incidentally by most dealers, the handling of the 

 greater part of the supply is done by a few firms only. 



Carp in the New York markets are mainly from the Illinois River 

 and from Lake Erie, the Ijalance coming generally from eastern points, 

 notably East Bay, L. I., the Delaware River, Havre de Grace, Md., 

 and Washington, D. C. Most of the carp are received from April to 

 Septem])er, inclusive, the remainder arriving in the winter months. 

 Hebrew retail dealers and peddlers dispose of the greater part on the 

 East Side, some going to Philadelphia and to points in New England. 

 As the Hudson River contains many carp, it is probable that New York 

 will in time be supplied with cheap fish from that source. 



The following table shows the quantity and value of German carp 

 handled in the wholesale markets of New York City during 1901: 



Seasons. 



Value to 

 fishermen. 



Value to 

 dealers. 



Jan. 1 to Mar. 1 



Mar. 1 to Apr. 15 



Apr. 15 to June 15 



June 15 to Sept. 1 



Sept. 1 to Dec. 1 



Dec. 1 to Jan. 1 



Total for the year 



354, 950 



589, 500 



2, 040, 000 



1,485,000 



2, 032. 500 



405, 000 



$10, 649 

 7,370 

 20, 040 

 29,700 

 51,813 

 13, 163 



»17, 748 

 11,790 

 34,000 

 44,550 

 71,138 

 18, 225 



6, 906, 950 



132, 735 



197,451 



The above values represent the selling price in New York. The 

 value of this quantity of carp to the fishermen was $132,735, which 

 does not include freight or express charges. 



The carp trade in general.— Tho. carp industr}" of the Illinois River 

 has been important for several j^ears, the catch in 1901 amounting to 

 5,780,200 « pounds, valued at $173,406. The catch in Lake Erie in 

 1900 was 4,598,090 pounds. The quantity marketed in the United 

 States is, according to the latest statistics available, 17,160,873 pounds, 

 valued at $407,633. As the figures for some sections of the countiy 

 are over three years old, and as the consumption of carp is increasing, 

 the quantity put on the market annually is probably over 20,000,000 

 pounds. 



Where dealers have worked up regular markets for carp, and 

 handled them in quantities large enough for profit at the low prices 

 obtained, hopeful opinions will be heard; where these fish are received 

 incidentally they can not be handled with profit, and opinions just the 

 reverse will be expressed regarding their presence in the fish trade. 



o Report of the Illinois Fishermen's Association for the year ending December 31, 1901. 



