St. Nicholas/Volume 32/Number 4/Nature and Science/Fish

A New York City Fish.

It seems strange that in the great city of New York should be found a fish which is unlike all others, yet such is the case. In the lake in Central Park is found a pearl roach which differs so much from the pearl roach of various waters that it has been given a new place as a subspecies. Instead of being called simply Abramis chrysoleucas, it is called Abramis chrysoleucas roseus. However, the fish is much more beautiful than its name, and indeed is one of the handsomest in the aquarium at the Battery. Its body is silvery gray which has a trick of sparkling like mica as the light falls on it at different angles. Its fins are brilliant vermilion.
The Pearl Roach.

Now you will ask the question, “How came this fish in Central Park and not in other lakes and in streams?” and the answer of the scientists is, “We do not know.”

The theories are that these fish are descendants of the common pearl roach which may have been in the park lake always or placed there many years ago and have since changed color and shape because of especially good food-supply thrown to them by visitors to the park, or that some one had European roaches in an aquarium, and tiring of them, liberated them in the lake. They therefore may be a product of especial food or of change of climate or environment. Anyhow, they are a puzzle to the scientists and a delight to the eye of the nature-lover.