10 
CARP. 
tat 
Of this fish it is necessary to add but little to what has already © 
been stated in former reports. 
lo say that it has fulfilled all our expectations, and has done all 
promised for it, is praise enough. In every instance, where suitable | 
ponds have been prepared for them and anything like proper care — 
given them, they have proved a success, attaining large size and © 
increasing rapidly. We give a few instances of their rapid growth 
which have come under our own observation. 
In the early part of this month—September—the Directors of 
Highland Park, Quincy, decided to have their pond seined in order 
to ascertain what they had there. The pond had been perfectly dry 
two years before. The officers had made application for some young 
carp, and on obtaining them, placed them in the pond, then filled 
for the first time. 
In November, 1882, the pond was seined, and among others a carp 
was taken out that measured about 22 inches in length, and 
weighed’ 9 pounds 8 oz. The fish was weighed by Pres. Hug, of ,the 
Park Association, in presence of Mr. D. F. Wilcox of the ‘‘ Whig.” 
The fish was cooked, and although in perhaps the poorest way a 
large fish could be cooked, viz: by frying, it was pronounced by all 
who tasted it to be above the average. 
Dr. Adams of Spring Hill Park, Peoria, obtained through the 
Commission, two years ago, 20 carp, which he placed in a spring 
pond, or rather directly in the spring, at his place in Peoria. 
For the first year, the Doctor tells us, the carp did not grow 
three inches. After some correspondence with the Commissioners, he be- 
came convinced that he had made a mistake in placing the carp in 
cold water, and took out 7 of them and put them im a pond formed 
from the overflow from an artesian well, temperature about 68° the 
year round. At less than two years of age one of the carp weighed 
9+ pounds, measuring 22 inches in length, a growth of over 1 pound 
a month from the time if was placed in warm water. 
In another place in this report will be found extracts from letters 
from a large number-of those who have received carp through the 
Commission. 
Of the edible qualities of the carp a great deal pro and con has 
been said. Eyrom the best information we can gather, it is fully an 
average fish,—everything depending upon the manner in which it is 
cooked, and the time of year in which in is killed. Ont of several 
hundred replies to inquiries made by the United States Fish Commis- 
sion of those who had been supplied through them, but a few 
were unfavorable. A very large percentage claime’ it to be excel- 
lent, a smaller proportion pronounced it fair, and but one or two 
pronounced it poor eating. 
Hon. Thos. Cooper, Mayor of Pekin, caught a carp from his pond 
that weighed 63 pounds. He had it dressed and baked. He pro- 
nounced it as good a fish as he ever ate. 
