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and substantial food for the people of the interior who 

 were deprived of the fish of the ocean. He, therefore, 

 sent to Germany, and secured a quantity of German carp, 

 which he thought might be adapted to the inland waters. 

 These were imported at the Government's expense, kept 

 in ponds, and artificially propagated until a sufficient 

 quantity had been raised to warrant their distribution to 

 the smaller waters of the interior. As soon as the supply 

 was sufficiently large, the distribution began, and year after 

 year it had increased, until, at the close of 1882, German 

 carp had been introduced into upwards of 18,000 different 

 localities scattered over all portions of the United States. 

 It was at first considered doubtful whether these fish would 

 be suited to American waters, and it was therefore decidedly 

 desirable for the Government to undertake the experi- 

 ment of their introduction, for no private individual or 

 company would feel justified in hazarding their funds on' 

 such an uncertain venture. He was happy to say that the 

 efforts of Professor Baird had proved successful beyond 

 expectation. The German carp were found to increase more 

 in size in the waters of Florida in eighteen months than they 

 did in their native waters in four years. Thus it was found 

 possible to introduce valuable food-fish into the inland 

 waters of America and under that term he included mill- 

 ponds, and the little ponds on the lands of the farmer for 

 many farmers were now clearing the rubbish out of their 

 little ponds, and were sending to the Commission to obtain 

 a supply of carp which was given them gratuitously, and 

 many were now raising them successfully, frequently distri- 

 buting the young to their neighbours gratuitously, or selling 

 them at a low price. He thought it would be quite possible 

 to do the same in the inland waters of Ireland. Mr. Walsh 

 had made many suggestions, some of which were very valu- 

 VOL. VII. C. L 



