540 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 
In 1858 the varieties [of fishes] to be found in the waters of New Bedford were: 
Fresh-water: Trout, perch (white, red, yellow), pickerel, chub, carp, silverfish, 
minnow, hornpout, eel, clam. 
But as other evidence of the occurrence of the carp in Minseoc inert: 
at that time is lacking, we must again conclude that the identification 
was at fault. 
In 1842, however, the name of the carp appears in scientific literature, 
being included by De Kay (pp. 188-190) in his list of the fishes of New 
York. He remarks upon its introduction as follows (p. 189): 
Tam not aware that any attempt has been made to introduce the carp into this 
country previous to the year 1831, which, it will be seen by the following letter from 
Henry Robinson, esq., of Newburgh, Orange County [New York], was attended 
with complete success. 
‘“‘T brought the carp from France in the years 1831 and 1832, some 2 or 3 dozen at 
a time, and generally lost one-third on the passage. I probably put into my ponds 
6 or 7 dozen. ’ They soon increased to a surprising degree, and I have now more than 
suflicient for family use. I have not paid much attention to their habits, but I have 
noticed that they spawn twice a year; first about the middle of May, and again in 
July. It is said in France that they spawn three times, but I have not observed it. 
During the period of spawning, which lasts about ten days, it is very amusing to 
watch their operations. They come up to the surface, and the females deposit their 
spawn along the sides of the pond among the grass, where they are impregnated by 
the males as they are emitted. During this process, they keep the sides of the pond 
in a foam with their gambols, and it is not difficult at that time to take them with 
your hands. They grow quickly, reaching 3 or 4 inches the first year, but after that 
time their growth is very slow. The largest I have taken yet have not exceeded 10 
or 11 inches, my ponds being too small for them to equal the size of those you see in 
Europe. They are very shy of the hook; I generally bait with small pieces of fresh 
bread, (of which they are very fond, ) made up into small pills with the fingers, and 
at the same time drop a small piece of bread into the water near the hook, when they 
bite readily. My ponds are supplied by springs of pure and clear water, but they 
keep the water in such a state that they cannot be seen at the bottom. 
‘For the last four years past, I have put from 1 to 2 dozen carp every spring in the 
Hudson river near my residence. They have increased so much that our fishermen 
frequently take them in their nets. They are larger than those in my ponds.” 
There are several other references in the literature to apparently 
the same introduction. In the Transactions of the American Institute 
(1851) for 1850, page 397, in a discussion before the Farmers’ Club, 
we find the following: 
Mr. Mrias.—We are pleased to see among us Captain Robinson, of Newburgh, who 
brought the Carp from England several years ago—thus conferring a great benefit 
upon his country by adding a fish before that unknown in our waters. 
Captain Rosryson.—I brought the Carp from France about seven“ years ago, put 
them into our Hudson river, and obtained protection for them from our Legislature, 
which passed a law imposing a fine of $50 for destroying one of them. I put in Gold 
Fish at the same time. Now some of these Carps will weigh 2 pounds, and some of 
the Gold Fish, which are a species of Carp, are quite large, some of them being pure 
silvery white. Both kinds are multiplying rapidly. 
a There is here a discrepancy in the date. If, as Robinson says in his letter to De Kay (above), he 
brought the carp to this country in 1831-82, seventeen years would come nearer to it than seven. 
b This discussion is noted by E. E. Shears (1882). 
