Co 
American Fisheries Society. Pile 
to 18 cents a pound. But when they mix the fish up with 
potato, turnip, garlic, onions, herbs and bread, it makes a very 
cheap dish for them, and perhaps the condiments hide the 
muddy taste of the fish. 
I think myself I am prepared to modify my former opinion 
of the carp for cultivation purposes, to this extent: If they 
can be kept or raised in ponds where they cannot get out into 
the open streams, and can thus be prevented from diminishing 
the supply of fish in those streams, I am in favor of so raising 
them ; because I believe as long as an industry can be made out 
of any fish that it should be to a certain extent fostered. But it 
is not a suitable fish for the streams of Pennsylvania, most of 
which come from the mountains, naturally pure, and these fish 
befoul these waters. 
They do destroy plant life. There 1s no question about that 
with us. It cannot be disputed in Pennsylvania that they de- 
stroy the water vegetation, and destroy it in large quantities. It 
is also undoubtedly true that they keep the water muddy and 
drive the bass and other fishes therefrom. 
By destroying the vegetation in the water they destroy the 
minute animal life on which bass fingerlings thrive. 
Not only bass but other and game fish are deprived of food 
and shelter by the carp. 
It is for these reasons that I am not a friend of the carp, 
and why | have opposed its further introduction in waters, and 
why I have heartily approved in Pennsylvania of the enactment 
of a measure which makes it a misdemeanor to plant the fish 
in any public waters in Pennsylvania. 
In short, I consider the German carp undersirable fish. 
Mr. Atkins: The trouble seems to be that people allow 
themselves in matters of taste to be led by prejudice rather than 
be controlled by careful judgment. There is quite a general 
prejudice against the carp throughout the country; but in IIli- 
nois the carp is found to be a good thing. 
It might be a surprise to some who are fond of black bass 
and have a high opinion of it, to know that there are sections of 
the country where for fifteen or twenty years past there has 
been constant opposition to the black bass. That is the state of 
