12 
J roe Pkg 
At or near Hannibal, on Mississippi River, a number of carp — 
have been caught, weighing from 14 to 5 pounds, showing beyond | 
a doubt that there are carp of different ages in the river, and that — 
a portion of the carp are those which have escaped from ponds, 
for from no other source could the carp have found their way into 
the river. ; 
Above Quincy, on Mississippi River, at several times during this 
season, while the men have been taking the young native fish from 
the drying pools and levee pits, young carp have been taken almost 
too large for this season’s spawning, yet not large enough for © 
yearlings. They certainly must have been the increase of mature © 
fish in the river. 
Taking the facts altogether, it argues very favorably for the carp 
in our streams, and we have no doubt but that they will in time 
be numbered among our fish as native to our waters. 
There has certainly been a decided increase in interest in the 
cultivation of the carp. Where five years ago there were probably 
not five carp ponds in the State, they are now numbered by the 
thousand, and some success must have been met with, as our lists 
show the greatest number of applicants from localities where they 
were first introduced. 
There is a new variety of carp called the ‘‘Blue Carp,” which is | 
said to possess many good qualities. We have been promised a 
supply from U. 8. ponds, and when received they will be placed in 
suitable ponds for purposes of propagation and ultimate distribu- 
tion. 
CARP DISTRIBUTION. 
Our distribution of carp has been large, and indications are that 
our list for 1884 will exceed 1,000 names. In almost every instance 
ponds for their reception have been specially constructed, the 
expenditure by our agricultural people aggregating a very large 
amount of money. 
It is possible for every farm to have somewhere within its borders 
a carp pond—on almost every farm can be found a spot good for 
nothing else. On all, space enough can be spared, and the revenue 
OF ee ee 
— 
derived from such a pond will, we think, fully compensate for the © 
loss of its use for other purposes. Many of our prairie farms are | 
using drain tile, and in a number of instances great difficulty is 
found in disposing of the water. Why not dispose of this water 
_— 
satisfactorily and at the same time place upon the farm an ever | 
increasing source of food supply? In other words make a level for 
the water, excavate a pond and stock it with carp. The cost would | 
be slight, while the benefit to be derived would be great. The 
United States Fish Commission by their liberality in the past have | 
enabled us to furnish a large number of applicants with carp, and 
have promised us a large shipment this fall. The distribution will | 
be made from Quincey, Illinois, under the supervision of S. P. Bart- | 
lett. Live boxes have been provided for their regeption, from which 
they are taken as the distribution progresses. A full record is kept 
