THE CARP AND ITS CULTTTRE. 89o 



fish would uever have the sharply-marked characteristics of their variety 

 as regards form and color, but would approach nearer to the " mirror- 

 carp " and the " common carp." The carp has a striking tendency, when 

 living with other varieties, to approach the primitive form of the com- 

 mon carp, and finally to be merged in it. These beautiful varieties 

 should therefore be kept strictly separate ; lack of ponds or any other 

 reason should never induce people to mix them. 



If the breeding-experiments are to be accompanied by good results, 

 a pure variety should be selected, and the finest and best milters and 

 spawners, showing strongly all tJie characteristics of their variety should 

 be procured, and the experiments will be crowned with success. 



I must return to the so-called "mixed culture,'-' by mentioning that it 

 is not to be recommended. In Central Europe it is never practiced by 

 scientific pisciculturists but only by small operators mostly in so-called 

 " peasants' ponds." This method does never yield a certain and truly 

 profitable result. 



7. — FEEDINGr THE CARP. 



In conclusion 1 will make some remarks on the feeding of carp in 

 close ponds. It is not every natural pond which is a good pond, having 

 the essentials of a good soil at the bottom and capable of producing suf- 

 ficient food for the fish. If these conditions are wanting, the fish must 

 be fed. This is as a general rule only necessary in ponds with sandy 

 bottom without any clay. As I have said before, I am not in favor of 

 feeding fish, as my standpoint is that of the rational culturist sharing the 

 opinion with most of the prominent pisciculturists of the Old World, that 

 the carp should find its own food in the ponds. 



If, however, the nature of the bottom demands artificial feeding, or if 

 suitable food can be had at a remarkably cheap price, the feeding should 

 be done with great caution. Never feed in one and the same place; 

 even if the pond be very large, distribute the food in different places 

 near the banks. If the food is always put in one place or even if it is 

 distributed over two places, the carp will stay in the neighborhood of 

 these places, will become languid, and instead of scouring the other 

 parts of the pond in search of food, will remain at the bottom. It will 

 even if surrounded by the richest food, grow fat, but never have any 

 firm flesh ; nor will it ever grow much in length, as the somewhat phleg- 

 matic fish does not get the exercise which favors its growth. 



Never give them much food at one time, but by degrees, in small 

 quantities, never during the day but either early in the morning or in 

 the evening. During the hot season only feed them late at night, be- 

 cause the carp, if it has eaten sufficiently in the morning, will remain 

 at the bottom all day, while during the higher temperature of the water 

 it is necessary for its health that it should swim round and get a change 

 of water. It is therefore useful to place in ponds containing large carps 

 a limited number of pike, which, however, must be smaller than the 

 carp. The carp fears the pike and flies from it. If there are pike in 



