THE CARP IN THE HUDSON. 199 



except as an ornamental fish, to be kept in garden tanks and 

 fountains ; but the other being much, though I must confess in 

 my opinion undeservedly, esteemed in Europe, and having been 

 deemed worthy of legislative enactments for his protection by 

 the State of New York, I shall proceed to describe as a species, 

 which, within a year or two at the farthest, will come within 

 the American angler's list of game. 



The mode of this fishes introduction into American Avaters is 

 as follows : — Captain Robinson, who has a fine place imme- 

 diately on the banks of the Hudson river, containing some fine 

 fish-ponds, between Newburgh and New Windsor, imported 

 some years since a quantity of Carp at considerable expense, 

 I believe from Holland, where the species is very abundant and 

 very fine in quality. His ponds were soon admirably stocked; 

 but in process of time a heavy freshet carried away his dams 

 and flood-gates, and a very large proportion of his Carp escaped 

 into the Hudson. This fact being represented to the legis- 

 lature of the State, a penal enactment was passed, heavily 

 mulcting any person who should take any one of these Hudson 

 River Carp, at any season or under any circumstances until after 

 the expiration of five years from the passing of the act. 



The provisions of this bill have been strictly enforced: several 

 persons have been fined, and the fish is now extremely abundant. 



I cannot here, in relating these circumstances, control myself, 

 but must invoke the contempt and indignation of every gentle 

 sportsman, every reasonable thinking man, upon the heads of 

 that ignorant, motley, and destructive assemblage, which is 

 entitled the Senate and Assembly of New York. For the last 

 fifteen years not a session has passed without the strenuous and 



