May be hatched precisely like pike perch. They spawn in June and can be raised to advantage by the artificial method, as in their natural state the old ones devour the young as fast as they appear. Persons owning gold fish ponds are often surprised that the number of the fish never increases, and explain the phenomenon by the supposition that they do not breed in confinement. This is a mistake; they breed freely and abundantly, but the fry are devoured unless the pond has a shallow shelving edge, with grass or weeds where they can lie and hide from the larger ones. The motion of swallowing is peculiar. The prey is not seized by being darted upon, but is sucked in by a motion of the water into the mouth and out at the gills of the larger fish. The latter will remain motionless while his destined food approaches and pauses before his jaws, when suddenly the youngling is drawn sideways and disappears. The operation is well adapted to the lazy motions of the gold fish.

The eggs of these and kindred varieties may be hatched on baskets made of wicker or boughs, into which they are stripped directly, male and female together. The eggs catch on the twigs and remain there while the basket is deposited in some stream with a gentle current. Or the eggs may be caught on glass and, after being fertilized with the milt, left where the water can flow over them, care must be taken to shake and move the glass so that it is not covered with more than a single layer of eggs. The king carp is strongly recommended for introduction from Europe, where it attains great size and enjoys a high reputation for flavor and succulence. It is distinguished from other and inferior varieties by having only a few scales. There is also an American carp which attains a weight of eight or ten pounds and is occasionally seen in market.