THE GERMAN CARP IN THE UNITED STATES. 553 



fed by aa artesian vcqW so heavily charged with sulphur that what 

 appeared to be free sulphur was deposited in the wooden trough 

 which conducted the water from the pipe to the pond. It is said that 

 they even occur in abundance in the brackish or semibrackish waters 

 of the AtLantic coastal region (Townsend, in "Discussion on Carp," 

 Transactions American Fisheries Society for 11)01, p. 117); and Day 

 (18S0-18S1, p. 1G3) states that "a considerable number arc taken in the 

 Black Sea and Caspian; and Nordmann remarks upon their presence 

 in the salt lakes of New Russia." 



SIGHT. 



Although carp work about in mudd}^, roily water, the roiliness being 

 due largely to their method of feeding, they have, nevertheless, a quick 

 sight, which serves them well when the water is clear. As will be 

 discussed more fully under the subject of hearing, many actions which 

 have been attributed to that sense are in reality dependent upon sight. 

 Not onl}^ do the}^ take fright easih' at anything which moves, but there 

 can be no doubt that they are able to recognize unusual stationary 

 objects as well. I have often stood quietly for long times where the 

 water was clear and carp were feeding on all sides of me only a short 

 distance away. But when a fish came in my direction, it seldom 

 approached closer than seven or eight feet, and usualh^ not so close, 

 before it would take fright and dash suddenly off. On the other hand, 

 I have sometimes stood in roily water when they would actually bump 

 into my legs before they would turn with a splash and dart away. At 

 one time I built a scaffold some seven feet high above water in order to 

 be able to overlook a wider circle of marsh. It was on the edge of a 

 large spawning ground of black bass, and although a bass which was 

 guarding a nest not far from the base of the scaffold soon became 

 accustomed to the unusual structure and resumed his domestic duties, 

 few carp came in sight, in spite of the fact tliat I sometimes remained 

 quietly there for an hour and more at a time. When they came 

 within a circle which would be traced by a line at an angle of approxi- 

 mately 45^ from m}' position to the vv^ater, thc}^ apparenth' became 

 frightened, and left suddenl3^ 



In attempting to study the behavior of the fish at night, I at another 

 time employed a powerful acetylene searchlight, such as is manufac- 

 tured for use on launches. But this seemed to frighten them, even 

 when 4 or 5 rods awaJ^ As the beam of light was swept around to 

 different points I could hear the cai'p dash away through the rushes, 

 and could sometimes see the disturbance they caused in the water, but 

 in no case was 1 able to get close enough to see the fish themselves. 

 Common experience in fishing at night with a "jack" shows that 

 many kinds of fish are not so frightened by a sudden strong light. 



That sight plays an important part in the feeding of carp may 



