PRODUCTS OF THE PRINCIPAL FISHERIES IN DETAIL. 



49 



ies of the Mississippi River and its tributaries, however, 

 this fish ranked second in importance, contributing 15 

 per cent of the total value of the fishery products of 

 that district. Ninety-one per cent of the total value 

 of the buffalo-fish product represented that caught 

 in the Mississippi River and its tributaries. The 

 following tabular statement shows the catch, by 

 geographic divisions: 



1 Less than 1 per cent. 



Nineteen states reported a catch of buffalo fish. 

 Statistics concerning the product of the leading states 

 are given in the following tabular statement: 



The yield in 1908 was the most valuable on record, 

 and, although smaller in quantity than those of some 

 earlier years, it was larger than in 1903, a fact which 

 indicates a recovery from the downward movement of 

 the previous decade. Since the Mississippi River 

 product represented 91 per cent of the total value in 

 1908 and has always contributed at least this propor- 

 tion, the catch of buffalo fish from that division affords 

 a good basis of comparison between 1908 and previous 

 years. The statistics concerning the catch of buffalo 

 fish from the Mississippi River and its tributaries in 

 1894, 1899, 1903, and 1908 are therefore given in the 

 following tabular statement : 



During the entire period for which statistics are 

 available the average price has been slowly but steadily 

 increasing. 



The following tabular statement gives the quantity 

 and value of buffalo fish taken by the different kinds 

 of apparatus: 



Carp (Cyprinus carpio). — This fish, known as "Ger- 

 man carp," is a fresh-water food fish of great interest 

 to fish-culturists, and is found in ponds and streams in 

 nearly every state of the union. As a result of domes- 

 tication several varieties have arisen, of which the 

 principal ones are the "scale carp," heavily scaled; 

 the "mirror carp," with a few series of very large 

 scales; and the "leather carp," which is scaleless. 

 The size of the carp varies with the temperature and 

 clearness of the water, the kind of bottom, the abun- 

 dance and nature of the food supply, and in general 

 with the conditions under which it lives. These fish 

 live to a great age, and sometimes attain a weight of 

 more than 40 pounds. The carp naturally thrives 

 best in lakes, ponds, and sluggish streams, seeking 

 quiet or stagnant waters. It spawns about June. It 

 feeds largely on vegetable matter, insects and their 

 larvae, found on aquatic vegetation, forming its prin- 

 cipal animal food. It will, however, eat practically 

 anything it can get into its mouth, rooting about in 

 the mud much in the same way as a pig; and it also, 

 at times, feeds while swimming near the surface, eating 

 insects and their larvae and other floating substances. 

 The carp is said to eat neither fish nor their spawn, 

 but, on the other hand, young carp are preyed upon 

 by bass and other predaceous fishes. 



Certain species of carp, familiarly known as min- 

 nows, chubs, shiners, and dace, also are found in 

 the fresh waters of the United States, but the Ger- 

 man carp (Cyprinus carpio) is not indigenous to this 

 country. Originally a native of Central Asia, the 

 carp was gradually introduced into Europe, and early 

 in the thirteenth century was brought into Germany, 

 where it became a favorite food fish. It was not 

 introduced into the United States with a view to 

 propagation until 1877, when Mr. Hassel, of the 

 United States Fish Commission, brought over a num- 

 ber of carp from Germany for the purpose of experi- 

 mentation. Prior to that time private individuals 

 had brought specimens into the United States from 

 Germany, without attracting any general attention. 



