168 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



leather carp, based chiefly on the scaling of the body. The 

 leather carp is nearly naked, and is said to be the best variety; 

 the mirror carp has a few large scales irregularly placed; 

 and the scale variety has the body completely scaled. The color 

 is olivaceous, varying into dusky and blue. In the leather carp 

 the lower parts are more or less suffused with yellowish. D. Ill, 

 20; A. Ill, 5; V. I, 7; P. 15. Scales 5-38-5. 



The carp is a native of Asia and has been introduced into 

 Europe and America as a food fish, chiefly for pond culture. It 

 thrives in all warm and' temperate parts of the United States 

 and reaches its best condition in open waters. In Texas it has 

 grown to a length of 23 inches in 11 months after planting. The 

 leather variety is most hardy for transportation.' Mr Hessel 

 has taken the carp in the Black and Caspian seas; salt water 

 seems not to be objectionable to it, and it will live in stagnant 

 pools, though its flesh will be decidedly inferior in such waters. 

 The carp hibernates in winter except in warm latitudes, takes 

 no food and does not grow; its increase in size in temperate 

 latitudes occurs only from May to August. 



Reproduction. The spawning season begins in May and con- 

 tinues in some localities till August. A carp weighing 4 to 5 

 pounds, according to Mr Hessel, yields from 400,000 to 500,000 

 eggs; the scale carp contains rather more than the other varie- 

 ties. During the spawning the fish frequently rise to the sur- 

 face, the female accompanied by two or three males. The female 

 drops the eggs at intervals during a period of some days or 

 weeks in shallow water on aquatic plants. The eggs adhere 

 in lumps to plants, twigs and stones. The hatching period 

 varies from 12 to 16 days. 



Size. According to Hessel the average weight of a carp at 

 three years is from 3 to 3J pounds; with abundance of food it 

 will increase more rapidly in weight. The carp continues to 

 add to its circumference till its 35th year, and in the southern 

 parts of Europe Mr Hessel has seen individuals weighing 40 

 pounds and measuring 3J feet in length and 2| feet in circum- 

 ference. A carp weighing 67 pounds and with scales 2J inches 



