CHAPTEB IJ. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE CARP. THE VARIETIES. 



Among the many descriptions of the carp family, we consider tho 

 following the beet, and fully sufficient for their general identification. 

 Gauckler, a German authority, says: "The carp is high on the back, 

 compressed laterally and covered with scales. The back is more or less 

 arched. The head is pyramidal, the mouth is very small, having two 

 pairs of barbels, of which one pair is attached to the upper lip, and the 

 others, which are longer, are at the corners of the mouth. The general 

 color of the carp is golden brown, rather bright in the case of those which 

 live in running water, and darker with those which have lived always in 

 ponds. Often blueish reflections manifest themselves in the dorsal 

 region, and an orange tint colors its sides. The belly is a yellowish 

 white. 1 " 



Dr. Rudolph Hessel, Superintendent of the Department of Carp 

 Culture in the United States Fish Commission, at Washington, District 

 of Columbia, says: "The carp Cyprinus Carpio of the family Cyprinidse, 

 has a toothless mouth, thick lips, and four barbels on the upper jaw. In 

 place of the usual teeth of the mouth, there are a number of stout teeth on 

 the pliaryngeal bones, which are arranged in three rows. It has one 

 single dorsal which is longer than the anal. Roth of these fins have at 

 their origin, on the anterior edge, a strong ray which is serrated in a 

 downward direction. The caudal is a semi-circular shape, and the 

 natatory bladder is divided into two sections with connecting air passages. 

 The scales have an entire edge, and the body is compressed on the sides. 

 The general color of the back and sides is a dark olive brown, the abdo- 

 men often of a whitish or orange tint. The coloring depends, as with all 

 fishes, partly upon the age and season, partly Upon the water." 



Hugo Mulertt, of Cincinnati, O., writing for AMERICAN CARP CUL- 

 TURE, says: THE SCALE OR NOBLE CARP. Cyprinun carpio, Edelkarpfen, 

 Le Carpe. The body is stout and elongated, sides compressed, head 

 naked, small and supplied with well developed lips, the upper of which 

 carries two pairs of barbels, one larger than the other. The mouth is 

 toothless, though the fish is provided with masticating organs which are 

 situated far back in the throat. The color of the fish is generally dark 

 olive brown on the back and sides, though it will vary, according to 

 circumstances; the abdomen may be either yellowish, white or orange 

 tinted. The entire body is covered with silvery scales of a uniform size. 

 The dorsal fin is situated on the middle of the back, extending nearly to 

 the tail and consists of three spincms, the third one of which is serrated, 

 and fifteen to eighteen soft rays. These characteristics afe far as the 



