REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS. 41 



at Woodward's Gardens in San Francisco, with a view of planting them, 

 when they had arrived at maturity, in certain waters of this State; hut 

 no specimens were ever taken, therefore the only carp we have are those 

 which were introduced from Europe by the United States Fish Commis" 

 sioner. They are a most prolific fish. The ovary of a female has been 

 known to contain half a million eggs. Like most introduced fishes, they 

 make unusual growth when transplanted, reaching a weight of two 

 pounds in one year. 



It is charged that carp are destructive of other fishes. There is no 

 evidence to support the claim. Nature did not intend the carp for a 

 fighter when she gave it a sucker mouth. The carp is, like the sucker, 

 a scavenger of the waters, living on decayed vegetation and refuse that 

 other fish refuse. We have planted small black bass fry in bodies of 

 water that fairly swarmed with carp. In a few years the bass had the 

 upper hand. Being furnished with an abundant food supply, they 

 increased rapidly, while the carp showed a corresponding decrease, 

 only the larger ones seeming to survive. Wherever carp are found we 

 plant black bass, and at the present time the black bass have firmly 

 established themselves in all such waters. 



While our people look upon carp with contempt, they are still propa- 

 gated in a number of the Eastern States, especially in Illinois and 

 Massachusetts In the wholesale markets of New York City this fish 

 commands a price varying from 2 to 9 cents per pound, and is handled 

 in large quantities. The same can be said of the Chicago markets. In 

 our State its greatest value lies in furnishing a never-failing food supply 

 for our black bass and striped bass. These facts are mentioned to show 

 that the carp has a value here as elsewhere and that its introduction 

 into our waters was not a mistake. 



SHAD. 



This fish is considered the most valuable river fish of the Eastern 

 seaboard. Our people are beginning to appreciate the quality of the 

 shad and apparently better understand how to prepare it for the table. 

 The objection, "It is so bony," so frequently heard, is becoming less 

 common. The supply continues in excess of the demand to such an 

 extent that market fishermen are limited in their catch by the prin- 

 cipal dealers. At certain seasons of the year the markets are flooded 

 with shad and they are sold at less than 5 cents each, regardless of 

 weight. 



For the first shad taken in our waters, a bonus of $50 was paid, 

 which was on May 10, 1873. In 1874 sixteen full-grown shad were 

 taken at Vallejo. Since that time this fish has become so firmly estab- 

 lished that no legislation is necessary for its protection. The original 



