ited States Bureau of
Fisheries are of interest. In 1897, the California markets handled
2,949,642 pounds, worth $225,527.--(American Natural History.)

Nowhere else in the world, we venture to say, were such extensive,
costly and persistent efforts put forth in the transplantation of any
wild foreign species as the old U.S. Fish Commission, under Prof.
Spencer F. Baird, put forth in the introduction of the German carp into
the fresh water ponds, lakes and rivers of the United States. It was
held that because the carp could live and thrive in waters bottomed with
mud, that species would be a boon to all inland regions where bodies of
water, or streams, were scarce and dear. Although the carp is not the
best fish in the world for the table, it seemed that the dwellers in the
prairie and great plains regions would find it far better than
bullheads, or no fish at all,--which are about the same thing.

By means of special fish cars, sent literally all over the United
States, at a great total expense, live carp, hatched in the ponds near
the Washington Monument were distributed to all applicants. The German
carp spread far and wide; but to-day I think the fish has about as many
enemies as friends. In some places, strong objections have been filed to
the manner in which carp stir up the mud at the bottom of ponds and
small lakes, greatly to the detriment of all the native fishes found
therein.

* * * * *

CHAPTER XXXV

INTRODUCED SPECIES THAT HAVE BECOME PESTS

The man who successfully transplants or "introduces" into a new habitat
any persistent species of living thing, assumes a very grave
responsibility. Every introduced species is doubtful gravel until panned
out. The enormous losses that have been inflicted upon the world through
the perpetuation of follies with wild vertebrates and insects would, if
added together, be enough to purchase a principality. The most
aggravating feature of these follies in transplantation is that never
yet have they been made severely punishable. We are just as careless and
easy-going on this point as we were about the government of the
Yellowstone Park in the days when Howell and other poachers destroyed
our first national bison herd, and when caught red-handed--as Howell
was, skinning seven Park bison cows,--_could not be punished for it,
because there was no penalty prescribed by any law_.

To-day, there is a way in which any revengeful pers