430 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 

 Genus Cyprinus Linnaeus. 



The Carps. 

 Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus. 



Plate 97. 



Carp. Mirror Carp. Leather Carp. 



A fish of large size distinguished from the gold fish chiefly by 

 the presence of 4 barbels. 



It was originally introduced from the fresh waters of Central 

 Asia, and to America as a food-fish usually in ponds. In domes- 

 tication it has produced many varieties, principal among these 

 are those with very large scales (mirror carp) and those which 

 are scaleless (leather carp). It is usually considered a very 

 poor food-fish, though perfectly at home in foul water and often 

 found in muddy streams. Though living even in salt water and 

 stagnant pools, its flesh is then inferior. When wounded they 

 bleed profusely. The leather carp is said to be best for trans- 

 portation. Though said to attain 90 pounds in weight, those 

 in our limits seldom weigh more than a third of this. They 

 feed largely on vegetable matter and take the hook readily with 

 most bait. Spawning takes place in the spring. 



Cyprinus carpio E. Smith, Proc. Linn, Soc. N. Y., IX, 1897, 

 p. 28. 



Genus Carassius Nilsson. 



The Crucian Carps. 

 Carassius auratus (Linnaeus). 



Plate 98. 

 Gold Fish. 



This fish is, perhaps, too well known to need description. 

 Originally a native of China and Japan it has been introduced 

 into America and is now in many of our streams a permanent 



