FISHES OF PENNSYLVANIA. 55 

now one of the commonest aquarium fishes, and is extremely abundant 
in many of our streams. In Pennsylvania it abounds in the Delaware 
and Schuylkill rivers. It is extremely variable in color and form, 
usually orange, or mottled with black and orange, but in some streams 
silvery individuals are more common than any of the mottled varieties. 
It grows to a length of twelve inches and is an indifferent food fish. It 
spawns early in the spring, and in pond culture it is subject to many 
dangers and attacked by numerous enemies. The species, however, is 
extremely hardy, prolific and tenacious of life. 
Genus CYPRINUS Luinyvs. 
75. Cyprinus carpio Linnzvs. 
The Carp. (gure 1.) 
The carp has a stout and moderately elongate body and a small head. The great- 
est depth equals one-third of the length without the caudal fin. The length of the 
head is nearly one-fourth of the total to the base of the tail. The caudal peduncle is 
about two-fifths as deep as the body, and the caudal fin is strongly forked. The eye 
diameter is contained six and one-half times in the length of the head. The mouth 
is moderate, the upper jaw not extending to front of eye. The dorsal begins ata 
distance from tip of snout equal to twice lengthof head ; the length of its base equals 
twice length of pectoral ; the longest ray equals length of head without the snout; 
the last ray is two-fifths as long as the head. Theanal begins under the fifteenth ray 
of the dorsal ; its longest ray is two-thirds as long as the head, and more than twice 
as long as the last ray ; the length of its base is about two-fifthslength of head. The 
ventral begins under the second ray of the dorsal ; its length nearly equals longest 
dorsal ray. The pectoral is nearly one-fifth of total length without the caudal. The 
long spines of the dorsal and anal are strongly serrate along their hinder edges. A 
barbel on the upper lip and another at the angle of the mouth on each side; the 
tongest barbel about equal to diameter of eye. Three varieties are recognized—the 
scale, mirror and leather carp—based chiefly on the scaling of the body. The leather 
carp is nearly naked and is said to be the best variety; the mirror carp has a few 
large scales, irregularly placed, and the scale variety has the body completely 
sealed. The color is olivaceous, varying into dusky and blue. In the leather carp 
the lower parts are more or less suffused with yellowish. D. III, 20; A. III,5; V.1,7; 
P. 15; scales, 5-38-5. 
The carp is a native of Asia and has been introduced into Europe and 
America as a food fish, chiefly for pond culture; it thrives in all warm 
and temperate parts of the United States and reaches its best condition 
in open waters. In Texas it has grown to a length of twenty-three 
inches in eleven months after planting. The leather variety is most 
hardy for transportation. Mr. Hessel has taken the carp in the Black 
and Caspian seas; salt water seems not to be objectionable to it, and it 
will live in stagnant pools, although its flesh will be decidedly inferior 
in such waters. The carp hibernates in winter, except in warm lati- 
tudes, takes no food and does not grow; its increase in size in temper- 
ate latitudes occurs only from May to August. 
Reproduction.—The spawning season begins in May and continues in 
some localities until August. A carp weighing four to five pounds, ac- 
