70 



THE AQUARIUM, OCTOBER, 1893. 



for the purpose and burrow or dig a 

 hole in the bottom of the pond in some 

 suitable place. This hole is known as 

 a "kettle," in which the fish remain 

 head downward and closely packed 

 against each other, until the pleasant 

 weather of the spring again revives 

 them. 



In the succeeding fall, at an age of 

 16 months, a carj) under ordinary cir- 

 cumstances will weigh from one and 

 one quarter to two pounds, and may, 

 if everything has been propitious, 

 double that weight. Some maintain 

 that the carp at an age of 16 or 18 

 months will weigh eight or nine pounds, 

 but this is extremely doubtful, even 

 should the fish have been bred in the 

 richest pond in America. 



Carp mix very readily with other fish 

 of their kind, especially with our com- 

 mon goldfish (Carrasius auratus). This 

 may cause great trouble to those not 

 well posted, for the young and uncol- 

 ored goldfish very closely resemble 

 young scale-carp : it is easy to separate 

 them, if one but remembers that the 

 carp carries upon the upper lip two 

 pairs of barbies, which feature is lack- 

 ing in the goldfish. It is necessary to 

 mention this distinction in order to 

 guard against the worthless hybrids 

 that already exist in this country. 



We now proceed to describe the ac- 

 knowledged best varieties of carp, all of 

 which, the "golden carp" excepted, 

 are now cultivated in the United States. 



Each variety of carp has some pecu- 

 liarity or other of its own, and it is the 

 proper development of these that makes 

 the successful cultnrist, when he studies 

 the circumstances that produce the best 

 results. 



A certain variety of apple or potato 

 is most successfully cultivated in one 

 locality when intelligently handled. 



while in another place, and ignorantly 

 treated, it is an ignominious failure. 

 Why should the same not apply to the 

 carp ? The phrase "the right fish for 

 the right water" explains the idea in 

 terse and forcible language. 



THE MIRROR OR KING CARP. 



{('. rex cyprinorum.) 

 Der Spiegel Earpf en. Carp d cnir. 



This variety has a higher body than 

 that of the preceding and is but partly 

 covered with scales. The latter are of 

 different sizes and shapes, some of them 

 three or four times the size of those of 

 the scale carp. This variation has 

 given rise to the false impression that 

 carp shed their scales, the fact appar- 

 ently seeming to prove the idea. 



The color of the scales is deep black 

 in the centre and edged around with 

 silvery white, giving each scale the ap- 

 pearance of a miniature mirror ; hence 

 the name. 



The skin, where it is not protected 

 with scales, is of a rich creamy yellow 

 on the back, inclining to olive brown. 



In some localities this fish is prized 

 above all other varieties of the family. 

 This is not so much a matter of taste 

 as many wonld suppose, but depends 

 upon the success with which the fish is 

 cultivated in places that suit it best. 



THE NAKED OR LEATHER- 

 CARP. 



{C. nuchis.) 

 Der Leder Karpfen. 



As the name indicates, this variety is 

 very nearly or entirely naked, its skin 

 as soft as that of the catfish. Its shape 

 is the same as that of the mirror-carp, 

 differing only in color; the back and 

 sides are of a brownish gray and the 

 belly white. 



