What kind of fish is the black carp, and what is its market price per jin?

Our country has vast water areas, numerous rivers and lakes, and a long coastline, with abundant fish resources; according to surveys, our country has more than 1000 species of freshwater fish and about 2000 species of marine fish. So, what kind of fish is the black carp? What is the price per jin?

1. What kind of fish is the black carp?

1. The black carp is a fish with a bluish-black color, belonging to the Cyprinidae family; in Anhui it is commonly called “wuhun”, “heihun”, and “luosihun”; its body is slightly cylindrical, with a flat and round belly and no ventral ridge, the tail is slightly laterally compressed, the body color is bluish-black with a darker back, the fins are grayish-black, and the paired fins are especially dark.

2. The black carp is a deep-water fish, usually inhabiting the middle and lower layers of the water; it is mainly distributed in the plains south of the Yangtze River in China, and is relatively scarce north of the Yangtze River; it is an important fishery resource in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the lakes along it, and a major aquaculture species in various lakes and ponds.

3. The black carp is one of China's “four major domestic fish”; its food consists mainly of snails, mussels, clams, and corbicula, and it also preys on shrimp and insect larvae, while at the fry stage it mainly feeds on zooplankton; it mostly gathers in river bends and lakes along the river that are rich in food to feed and fatten up, and overwinters in deep water.

4. The black carp is a fast-growing fish, growing the fastest among the “four major domestic fish”; at 2 to 3 winters of age it can reach 3-5 kg, common individuals in the Yangtze River weigh about 15 to 20 kg, the largest individuals can reach 70 kg, the largest black carp specimen weighed 218 jin, and it reaches sexual maturity at 4 to 5 years of age.

5. The black carp is an important economic fish in China; its flesh is fat and tender, fresh and delicious, and it can be braised in soy sauce, dry-braised, stewed in clear soup, cooked sweet and sour, cut into sections and smoked, etc.; it is rich in nutrients and has the effects of benefiting qi, tonifying deficiency, strengthening the spleen, nourishing the stomach, removing dampness, dispelling wind, and promoting diuresis.

6. The black carp can be eaten by the general population, but it is not suitable for those with accumulated heat in the spleen and stomach, pruritic skin diseases, internal heat, hives, or ringworm, and it should not be eaten together with plums, schizonepeta, atractylodes macrocephala, or atractylodes lancea; its gall bladder is toxic and should not be taken indiscriminately.

2. What is the price of black carp per jin?

1. The price of black carp is not very expensive, generally around 6 to 10 yuan/jin; wild ones may be a bit more expensive, and farmed ones may be a bit cheaper; prices vary by place of origin, and the specific price is subject to the local market.

2. When selecting black carp, first look at the body shape: if it is deformed or bent, it indicates a seriously contaminated fish, and it is recommended not to buy it. Second, look at the appearance: if part of the scales have fallen off, the skin is yellowing, the tail is grayish-blue, some muscles are green, or some fish bellies are swollen, it indicates chromium contamination or heavy use of ammonium carbonate fertilizer in the pond, and it is recommended not to buy it. Third, look at the eyes: if the eyes are cloudy and lack luster, and some even bulge outward, it is recommended not to buy it. Fourth, look at the gills: if the gills are not smooth but rather rough and dark red, it indicates toxicity, and it is recommended not to buy it. Fifth, smell the odor: normal fish have a distinct fishy smell; if there is an abnormal odor, it indicates contamination by toxic substances, and it is recommended not to buy it.

Summary: The black carp is a fish of the Cyprinidae family, a fish with a bluish-black color, a deep-water fish, one of China's “four major domestic fish”, a fast-growing fish, and an important economic fish in China; its price is generally around 6 to 10 yuan/jin, and the specific price is subject to the local market.