XXVII.-THE INTRODUCTION AND CULTURE OF THE CARP IN 



CALIFORNIA. 



By Egbert A. Poppe. 



Oarp culture in California owes its beginning to the efforts made by 

 the late Mr. J. A. Poppe, of Sonoma, in the year 1872, and ijreviously. 

 Although yet in its infancy, it promises at an early day to become one 

 of the great sources of profit for the agriculturist and small farmer of 

 that State. 



The particulars of Mr. Poppe's visit to Germany in 1872, and his re- 

 turn in the same year with several small carj), which he placed in his 

 ponds on the "Palpuli Eancho," in Sonoma Valley, are facts well known 

 to the majority of people interested in the subject in California. To the 

 readers of the reports of the United States Fish Commission, however, 

 the circumstances are doubtless vague and uncertain, and it is the pur- 

 pose of this paper to give whatever information there is at hand con- 

 cerning Mr. Poppe's trip to Europe, and also to throw some light on the 

 question as to the time this well-known European wanderer, the carp, 

 first made its appearance in American waters. The subjoined account 

 can be relied on as being authentic in every particular, although less 

 full and exhaustive than it would otherwise have beeu had Mr. Poppe 

 been spared and given it the care and revision of his long experience. 

 Concerning Mr. Poppe, it may be said in this connection that he was 

 thoroughly imbued with the future success of carp culture in California. 

 He was busy collecting data concerning the carp for publication for a 

 long time, but his expectations and hopes were cut short by an untimely 

 death. 



The "Palpuli Eancho," where IVIr. Poppe resided, and where the carp 

 were i)laced on their arrival from Europe, will first demand our atten- 

 tion. This farm is situated about six miles from Sonoma, in a southerly 

 direction, and contains 684 acres. Of this, 440 acres is high arable 

 land, and the remaining 240 acres is marsh, or what is known in Cali- 

 fornia as "tule" land. Sonoma Creek, quite a large stream, navigable 

 almost to Sonoma, bounds the '-Palpuli Eancho" on the east, while on 

 the west there are the foot-hills and small eminences of the Coast Eange. 

 The name "Palpuli," if universally understood, would afibrd an index 

 of the character of the farm which bears its name. It signifies " land 

 of many springs." The number of simngs on this place is truly wonder- 

 ful. Almost every acre has one or more of them, and in many localities 



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