572 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Tvddely distributed of the largest of this family, I think do not deserve 

 especial cultivation, except as food for those previously named, in places 

 where any of the cyprinoids will thrive. They all stand — at all events 

 those which are now at all abundant in this country — far below aU of 

 the previously mentioned in flavor, and are distinguished by an abund- 

 ance of bones of the finest and most pointed kind, which make it a 

 troublesome, sometimes painful, matter to eat them. The carp proi^er, 

 which in more southerly'- countries has been and now is an object of 

 breeding, is found in only two places with us, where it is introduced, 

 although it is said that the attempt of its importation in ancient times 

 was made in many places, but without success. What value the carp 

 may have as a source of food in comi)arison with the species of fish 

 named, I cannot decide. I am inclined to believe that it does not much 

 suri)ass the bream in this respect. Should any one wish to undertake 

 to cultivate it, places may be found, of course, where this may be done 

 successfully, but it must take place in waters of entirely different quality 

 than those in which it is said that such culture was attempted before. 

 Low-lying warm waters, deep in places, with muddy bottom are their 

 proper haunts. All carp-fishes are very prolific, and live principally on 

 vegetables partly rotten. They are thus just suited as food for others — 

 carnivorous fishes. 



The same reason which appears to disparage undertaking the culture 

 of any genus or species of the Cyprinhkv* does not, on the contrary, 

 apply to the Lake (Lota), which is a rather generally favorite food in 

 the early months of the year wherever it occurs, namely, in all the great 

 watercourses of Southeastern Norway up to quite a considerable height; 

 in the Glommen as far as Eoros. This single fresh- wat^r representative 

 of the cod family is a greedy fish of prey, and is jiossessed of very great 

 fertility, so that, on the one hand, it is little adapted for the stocking of 

 waters where other more esteemed si)ecies of fish are bred, while, on the 

 other hand, its natural fecundity is sufficient to maintain the race in proper 

 abundance; from which it happens, furthermore, that its haunts have 

 such an extent that individuals rarely have any particular interest in 

 their increase. Should we ever x^roceed so far that systematic cultiva- 

 tion, for the interest of all, of the abundance of fish in the large lakes or 

 larger diA^sious of our greater water-courses should be practiced, and 

 should one then ever consider it of interest to increase the supply of this 

 species of fish, it will be very easy, by hatching out the sijawu, which can 

 be procured with ease in great quantities, to provide for the develop- 

 ment of great multitude of young. 



It cannot be open to question that one, by artificial hatching, and by 

 protected rearing in their tender youth of the young thus jiroduced, as 

 long as the natui'e and mode of life of each particular species of the 



* If oue wishes to describe this great family of fishes by the quality most apparent 

 to people iu general, one should style them the fishes crammed with fine bones and 

 with insipid flesh. 



