MISCELLANEOUS FRESH-WATER FISH 73 



about f of a pound. Where it is found no similar 

 fish will be taken, so that it will be recognized at 

 sight. It is not propagated artificially. A most noted 

 river for white perch is the Potomac, in which im- 

 mense numbers are taken annually. 



The carps, which are related to the American 

 fishes called suckers, have become quite plentiful all 

 through the States, and should be familiar to all 

 anglers. They are native to China, but were brought 

 to this country originally from Germany, the first 

 shipment, amounting to some three hundred and fifty 

 young fish, arriving in 1877. That they have become 

 so plentiful from such a small beginning, and in such 

 a short time, indicates that they are very prolific. In 

 fact, one weighing from 4 to 5 pounds will contain 

 between 400,000 and 500,000 eggs. There are three 

 varieties of carp, known as the scale carp, mirror carp, 

 and leather-back carp, the first and last varieties only 

 being found in this country. 



The scale carp is the original form, and, as the 

 name indicates, its body is covered with scales. The 

 mirror carp is a species with three or four rows of 

 extraordinarily large, bright scales running along the 

 sides, the balance of the body being covered with skin 

 free of scales. The leather-back has usually a few 

 coarse scales along the back, or none at all, and is cov- 

 ered by a quite thick skin. The color of all is brown, 



