THE FUTURE OF THE CARP 



By S. p. Bartlett, 

 u. s. fisheries station, quincy, ill. 



From the experience of the past let ns consider what are 

 the possibihties of the future in regard to the culture of the 

 carp. Few, if any, economic experiments looking to increas- 

 ing the food supply of the people have shown such satisfac- 

 tory results as has the introduction of the carp into the 

 waters of the State of Illinois by the Bureau of Fisheries. 



It is not necessary to recall the prejudice existing against 

 carp in the early years of its introduction, how they were 

 thrown away by the fishermen when taken in their nets and 

 how they were pronounced worthless by nearly all who un- 

 dertook their culture. The press throughout the country de- 

 nounced them, and those responsible for their introduction. 

 All this and more is familiar to most of you who have met 

 with this Society year after year, and joined in the discus- 

 sions brought out by papers which dealt with the subject. 

 All of it was simply the result of a lack of knowledge of the 

 value of the carp and ignorance of the possibilities connected 

 with its culture. 



It has taken a long time to demonstrate this value, but 

 many States that were loud in their denunciation are now 

 willing to accept the commercial advantages the carp repre- 

 sents, and openly advocate its culture, protection and care as 

 an important addition to the supply of food fishes. 



Fverywhere, as generally as any of our indigenous 

 fishes, we may find the carp, and it is not unusual to hear 

 fishermen before legislative committees make the assertion 

 that if they can be given a free rein to take carp they will 

 gladly assist in the enforcement of any law for the protection 

 of the "ame fishes. Without a knowledge of what the catch 



