CARP CULTURE 71 



a spawn-eater, probably with justice ; also of destroy- 

 ing water-plants, which are almost as necessary to 

 the well being of fish-life as the water itself. This 

 charge is undoubtedly true. Wherever there has been 

 a decrease in game fishes it has been accounted re- 

 sponsible. There is little if any truth in this last 

 statement. In mauy instances where carp have been 

 pronounced the offenders, the decrease has been traced 

 to other agencies, chief among them man. The most 

 widespread condemnation is that it is unfit to eat, 

 as its flesh has a strong muddy flavour due to its 

 habit of rooting in the bottom of a pond or stream. 



The bad reputation of the carp was gained 

 through over enthusiasm on the part of its 

 friends, and misapprehension regarding the re- 

 quirements of its successful pond-culture, when 

 first introduced into the United States. As a 

 matter of fact, while the carp is undoubtedly 

 very inferior in table qualities to many native 

 food-fishes, it is not an unpalatable fish when 

 reared in a suitable environment. It cannot be 

 so, since it is found on the bills of fare, at one 

 dollar a portion, of high-class restaurants in 

 New York and elsewhere. Without doubt, 

 many persons who have condemned the carp 

 most severely, have eaten it under the impres- 



