VALUE OF CARP AS FURNISHING FOOD FOR 

 BLACK BASS 



BY DH. S. P. BARTLETT, UNITED STATES BUREAU OF FISHERIES. OF 

 QUIXCY, ILL. 



In discussing this proposition I wish it understood that 1 deal 

 with the conditions present in the Mississip])i and Illinois river 

 husiness in Illinois. That there may Ije a variation in conditions 

 in other localities is prohably true, but I know of no better place 

 to show possible practical results from the introduction of the 

 carp for purposes given in the tith'. than in hx-alities nanu'd. 



I am aware that what I say may be considered as emanating 

 from an enthusiast on the question, or perhaps to put it plainly, 

 it may be thought that I have said so much about the cai-jt and 

 its general value, that I believe it myself and therefore do not 

 hesitate to state it as a fact. 1 am, however, pleased to know 

 that time has demonstrated l)ey()nd question, that the United 

 States Fish Commission did a good practical jol) wlien cai'p was 

 introduced in waters named. 



For a moment I would like to consider the conditions pres- 

 ent when fish are taken from the overflows and natural lakes and 

 ponds. My ohservations have l)een that a \ery large percentage 

 of coarse fish are always found in such places when the water be- 

 comes very warm during the summer months, say eighty-five per 

 cent of coarse fish which would include carp, buffalo, bream, cat- 

 fish, shad and the minnows, to fifteen per cent of the various 

 varieties which would include bass, pike or pickerel, crap])ie, 

 ])erch dogfish and gar, and I believe these proportions are nearly 

 or quite maintained in the rivers proper. These conditions, I be- 

 lieve to l)e natural and for a purpose, namelv, the coarser fish to 

 supply food to the gamier. If I am correct in this proposition, 

 the necessity for a great amount of food supply exists in order 

 that the bass and other live feeders may be maintained and fail- 

 ing in such su23ply, naturally consume their own fry and so far 

 as possible, each other. 



Way back in the sixties, buffalo furnished the bulk of coarse 



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