808 REPOJIT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [150] 



G74. Sfakmcnt of 3Iaurice C. Luckaihach, Bethlehem, Northampion Co., Pa., Dec. 1, 1883. 



GiiOWTH. — In March of this j^ear I put a few carp into a small pond as an experiment. 

 They were between 3 and 4 inches in length. I saw, so to say, nothing of them, ex- 

 cepting occasionally one would be seen to leap out of the water, when it was learned that 

 they were of fair size. A few days ago several came to the surface dead from impure water 

 running into the stream from a powder-mill. We immediately netted out the remain- 

 ing live ones, 5 in all. I weighed 2 of the dead ones, evidently a male and female. They 

 weighed l:]and 2', pounds. The growth of the fish astonished everybody. They were 

 evidently mirror carp, as they had no scales on the sides, only along the backbone and 

 a few scattered at the tail and belly. 



675. Statement of Robert Crane, 112 South Fourth St., Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 23, 1884. 



Disposition of caiu- ei:ceived. — The carp received in the fall of 1882 havedone hand- 

 somely. 



Enemies. — Snapping-turtles, water-snakes, fish-hawks, &c. , took some of the carp. 



Gkowth. — Our pond is in good condition, and the carp in it, some 35, wintered and 

 came out this spring in good shape. They did not grow much during the winter. Oc- 

 tober 24, 1883, I estimated them to weigh about l-;^ pounds and to average about 14 

 inches in length. 



67(j. Statement of 3Iiltoji P. Peirce, 14 South Del. Ai:c., Philadelphia, Pa.,Juhj 27, 1883. 



Disposition of carp received. — The 30 carp received in 187!) and the 2 lots re- 

 ceived subsequently I put in several small ponds, originally prepared for trout but 

 quite unsuitable for carp. The natural temperature is 50° F., whiclican be regulated as 

 well as the flow of water. The quantity of water that Hows into the pond is a little more 

 than is consumed by evaporation. 



Plants. — Lilies [nympluea odorata), myriophyllum, and other plants grow in the jiond. 



Ene.'.iies. — A few small, common frogs inhabit the pond. 1 shoot the water-snakes, 

 snapping-turtles, minks, and kingfishers when they appear. 



Food. — I give the carp no artificial food. Eut when preparing them for market or 

 table, I shall place them in wire-bottom vats, and feed them on boiled sugar-corn. 



Growth. — The 5 original carp remaining are from 15 to 18 inches in length. Other 

 ponds which I built expressly for carp contain 2-year old carp which average over 2 feet 

 in length. 



Repkoduction. — In the ponds which are supplied by cold water I have a large num- 

 ber of young all the way up to 12 or more inches, and much larger ones in the i)onds 

 built especially for carp. 



Dtsi'osition of YOiNci. — I have stocked other ponds with fry. 



Dii'iici'LTiEs. — Some of the original carp were stolen, and others killed by minks, 

 kingfishers, and snakes. 



Resuscit.vtiox of APPARENTLY DEAD CARP. — From a lot of 1,200 carp one of my 

 assistants threw out 110 which he supposed to be dead. I do not think they were dead, 

 but only torpid, for one was left floating in the tank when it was replaced in the store. 

 .\ small boy called who was going on the street-cars to a distant part of the city [Phila- 

 delphia]. The mechanics gave liim the supposed dead carp, which lie wrapped in a 

 piece of paper and placed in liis pocket to show to his chum. After reaching his destina- 

 tion and playing awhile, the two boyspa-ssed into a room where the goldfish tank stood, 

 when he thought of his carp. The boys thought they would give the lady of thehouse a 

 surprise, and so placed the carp in the tank. An hour or tw'o later the lady discovered a 

 strange fish swimming in her aquarium in an erratic manner, and, upon inquiry, learned 

 from the boss the almost incredible facts. Two weeks later she called and related them 

 to me, saying that the carp was well, lively, eating readily , and growing rapidly. — March 

 31, 1882. 



677. Statement of Milton P. Peiree, 323 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa., Sept., 18, 1884. 



Growth. — Carp were placed in a pond at League Island in January, 1883, and when 

 deposited were about 4 inches in length, having been hatched the summer Ijefore. 

 Several specimens were captured to-day, not one of which Avas less than 3j pounds in 

 weight and 19 inches in length. The heaviest one weighed 4 pounds and 10 ounces, and 

 measured 21 inches in length and 14 inches in girth. It was claimed that the fish grow 

 large and thrive without any special care. 



Edible qfalities. — I have recently eaten carp, plainly fried, with no trimmings 

 except a little butter. I consider them second only to the salmon family. 



