FAMILY CYPRINID^ — CYPRINUS. 189 



Eyes small. Nostrils large. Opercle with striae radiating from the anterior edge. Nape and 

 back rising suddenly. 



Dorsal fin long, with its first ray bony, the second bony and serrated on its posterior surface, 

 the third flexible and longest, Dorsal and anal coterminal. Ventrals arise under the third ray 

 of the dorsal ; the first ray of the anal fin robust, bony, serrated behind. Tail forked. Lateral 

 line interrupted, straight. Vertebrae 36. 



Color. Golden olive brown ; head darkest. Irides golden. Belly yellowish white. 



Length, 6-0- 12-0. 



Fin rays, D. 22; P. 17; V. 9 ; A. 8 ; C. 19. 



The Carp is a native of the lakes and rivers of the southern parts of Europe. In Austria 

 and Prussia, their growth is carefully cultivated, and tlie traffic in them so considerable, that 

 in places which are favorable to their increase, the yearly rent of an acre of water is equal 

 in value to that of an acre of land. They are not found as far north as Russia, and were 

 introduced into England about three hundred years ago. I am not avi'are 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, 

 was attended with complete success. 



" I brought the Carp from France in the years 1831 and 32, some two or three dozen at a time, and 

 " generally lost one-third on the passage. I probably put into my ponds six or seven dozen. They soon 

 " increased to a surprising degree, and I have now more than sufficient for family use. I have not 

 " paid much attention to their habits, but I have noticed that they spavim 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 spa^vn along the sides of 

 " the pond among the grass, where they are impregnated by the males as tliey 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 three or four inches the first year, but 

 " after that time their growth is very slow. The largest I have taken yet have not exceeded ten or eleven 

 " 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 one to two dozen carp every spring in the Hudson river 

 " near my residence. They, have increased so much that our fishermen frequently take llicm in their 

 " nets. They are larger than those in my ponds." 



This interesting note is important, as establishing the practicability of introducino- foreign 

 fishes into our waters, and as recording an important fact in Ichthyology. We invite other 

 patriotic individuals to make similar experiments with other species, which are now limited 

 to the other side of the Atlantic. From recent experiments made in Europe with impregnated 



