322 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
of select carp in Germany, viz, Bohemian, which has a more elongated, and the 
Galician, which has a rounder shape. 
It was formerly thought that carp lived on vegetable food, but it is now definitely 
settled that snails, crustaceans, and other small aquatic animals form its principal 
food. The carp gets albumen and soluble hydrates of carbon also from plants, and in 
many places it is therefore fed on boiled potatoes. For spawning the carp need water 
having a temperature of at least 14° to 15° Iteaumur (63.5° to 65.75° F.) ; 18° Reaumur 
(72.5° F.) may be considered the best average temperature for the carp, and it can 
even stand 25° to 28° Reaumur (88.25° to 95° F.) without difficulty. With abundant 
food it can reach the weight of 4 pounds at the age of one year. Under ordinary 
circumstances it weighs 1 pound at two years, 24 to 3 pounds at three years, and 3 to 
5 pounds at four years. In many localities there is a demand for carp of a certain size, 
and owners of carp ponds must bear this in mind. An idea of the vast extent to which 
carp are raised in Germany may be gathered from the circumstance that Prince 
Scliwarzenberg annually spends 250,000 florins ($100,000) for ground meat for feeding 
his carp. Mr. Burchardt, a prominent fish-culturist, received from Prince Hatzfeld 
40,000 marks for bringing the prince’s ponds up to a higher state of productiveness. 
Perch are now quite common in Bavaria, but are not well suited for ponds. In 
their place American bass, both small and large mouth, have recently been introduced. 
The large-mouth, which can stand water of a high temperature, reaches the weight of 
20 pounds. The small-mouth bass, on the other hand, requires colder water. The 
fish increase rapidly and with certainty, especially as the young are protected from 
enemies by their parents. For spawning they require a rocky bottom or one covered 
with coarse gravel. As perch grow slowly and generally do not reach a greater 
weight than 3 pounds, they should be supplanted by this more valuable fish. In 
Munich bass bring 2J marks (59.5 cents) per pound. 
The raising of eels is exceedingly profitable in Germany. One hundred young 
eels set out in a pond yielded 2,000 kilograms (4,410 pounds) of eels after three years. 
The trout is very generally raised in Germany. It requires running water, but 
some kinds thrive in ponds. The common brook trout ( Salmo fario) is not found in 
water of more than 18° Reaumur (72.5° F.). It is a predaceous fish. 
The rainbow trout ( Salmo irideus) which comes from the west coast of America, 
can stand both cold and warm water, the latter up to 25° Reaumur (8S.25° F.). This 
alone makes it suitable for fish-culture. It spawns in spring, April and May. In 
cold water it reaches the length of 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) during the first year; 
22 centimeters (8.7 inches) during the second year; 28 centimeters (11 inches) during 
the third year, and is then ready to spawn. The male fish are ready one year sooner. 
Under very favorable circumstances, and in water of high temperature, three- year-old 
rainbow trout have reached a weight of 5 pounds. It is much easier to raise this kind 
of trout than the common brook trout. It takes food much easier, is not predaceous, 
and is admirably adapted for pond- culture. 
Of late years a brook trout ( Salvelinus fontinalis ) imported from America has 
been raised considerably in Germany. It has a dark-red belly and fins. It is found 
in very cold water, having a temperature of 7° to 8° Reaumur (47.75° to 50° F.), and 
grows faster in such water than other kinds of trout. 
The speaker exhibited a cross between the German and the American brook trout, 
which has been called the Alsace trout. It is fatter and larger than the American and 
is best suited for small streams. 
