CAEP CULTUEE 81 



eggs. A fish of 16% pounds may have over 

 2,000,000. 



The carp is not a nest-building fish. The 

 eggs are deposited carelessly about in shallow 

 water, and then abandoned. As they are 

 strongly adhesive they become firmly attached 

 to the roots of grasses on the bottom wherever 

 they happen to fall. They develop rapidly in 

 water having a temperature of 69 degrees, and 

 hatch in five or six days, but in the Middle 

 States, under ordinary conditions and favour- 

 able temperature, they require only about 

 twelve days. 



On account of the great number of eggs pro- 

 duced many breeders are not required. Into 

 each spawning-pond should be placed either two 

 females and one male, or three females and two 

 males, constituting a " spawning party. " Ac- 

 cording to Cole, the spawning is not confined 

 to any particular time of the day, though it 

 apparently takes place during the morning 

 hours, probably about daylight. Mr. Hessel 

 says: "The female drops only about from 400 

 to 500 eggs at a time, and it will require days 

 and weeks before she has given up the last egg. 



