NATURAL HISTORY, TORONTO REGION 
with scales, this last being the most abundant form 
in our waters. No greater mistake was ever made 
than the introduction of this fish into North Ameri- 
can waters. In England, where it is well known, it 
was considered about the most worthless fish they 
had, and one of the most difficult to get rid of, where 
once it had become established. On some parts of 
the continent of Europe, however, where good fish 
are scarce, the Carp was cultivated and fed in ponds 
with care, and, probably because the people knew no 
better, it was more appreciated. In this country, 
where fish of the highest quality should be obtainable 
by every one, there is no place for the Carp. DeKay 
states that it was first introduced into New York 
waters in 1831. In 1870 it was taken to California, 
and in 1877 the United States Fishery Commis- 
sioners imported a considerable number and propa- 
gated them only too successfully. Since then they 
have spread into all accessible waters and have 
become an unbearable nuisance wherever found, for 
not only are they damaging our fisheries, but also, by 
reason of their destruction of the wild rice beds, they 
are causing the ‘wild fowl to avoid the feeding 
grounds to which they formerly resorted during the 
autumn flight. The food of Carp consists princi- 
pally of insects and vegetable matter, preferably, per- 
haps, of the seeds, young shoots and tender roots of 
aquatic plants; when feeding it constantly grubs up 
the bottom, thereby stirring the mud and keeping the 
water in such a dirty condition that none of our 
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