376 NATURAL HISTORY OF HAWAII. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

 INTRODUCED FRESH WATER FISH. 



Goldfish. 



Several attempts have been made ])y private citizens to introduce well- 

 known food, game and ornamental fish into the Hawaiian Islands. One of the 

 earliest, if not the first attemjit of this nature, resulted in introducing' the 

 Avell-known goldfish ^ into the streams, ponds and in-igation ditches of Oahu, 

 from whence they liavc been generally distributed to the other inhabitetl 

 islands of the grou]). The original stock of goldfish came from China, but 

 the date of the first shipment is not known. As early as 1867, however, they 

 were being exported to California, and from that time to the present they 

 have been abuiidant about Honolulu, and have contributed their share to the 

 ideal beauty of the streams and the pleasure of the young angler. Since the 

 original introduction some of the fancy varieties have been liberated at differ- 

 ent times, with the result that there is much variation in form and color among 

 the wild species. Ooldfish are regularly offered for sale in the market in 

 Honolulu, but they are mainly eaten by the Chinese and Japanese. 



The goldfish is a native of China, and from there it was introduced into 

 Japan at an early date. From Japan they were carried to Europe in 1611, 

 and later to America, where many of the various artificial varieties that have 

 been produced in China and Japan are reared with great success by fanciers. 

 The rich golden color is found only in the domesticated species, and is re- 

 tained by artificial selection. The native fish are olivaceous in color, and in 

 the ponds and ditches about Honolulu, as in China and Japan, they readily 

 revert to that color. In the Orient several score of forms have been produced 

 by patient selection and breeding. Eighteen forms of so-called toy goldfish 

 are known among the fanciers, each of them ])rovided with a name based on 

 its origin, history, form or color. 



They are rather sluggish, hardy creatvires that devour large quantities of 

 mosquito larva? froiu pools and fountains about the city. Unfortunately, the 

 more recently introduced "mosquito fish" are reported to feed on the eggs 

 and very young of the goldfish and mullet, as well as the mosquito larvtv and 

 the young of the fresh-water shrimp. As a result, goldfish are not as plentiful 

 in our streams as they were formerly. 



Carp. 



Carp- were introduced into the islands from America some years ago. 

 They were first ])lanted in the iri'igation ditches near Waihiku. and from there 

 Avere distributed to Hawaii and Oahu, and doubtless will be fouiul on all the 

 islands. They are not much used as food on account of their nuiddy 

 flavor and are onl\- used in the absence of better fish. Thev iiaturallv 



' Carassitis aurattis. - Ci/praKKS carido. 



