852 CYFRINID.E. 



Carp are said to have been introduced into Ireland in 

 the reign of James the First, and are preserved in the 

 counties of Cork, Dublin, Kilkenny, and probably several 

 others. 



The larvae of insects, worms, and the softer parts of 

 aquatic plants, are the food of the Carp. They probably 

 eat little or nothing during winter, and are supposed to 

 bury themselves in mud. White, in his Natural History 

 of Selborne, says, " in the gardens of the Black Bear Inn 

 in the town of Reading, is a stream or canal, running under 

 the stables, and out into the fields on the other side of 

 the road ; in this water are many Carps, which lie rolling 

 about in sight, being fed by travellers, who amuse them- 

 selves by tossing them bread : but as soon as the weather 

 grows at all severe these fishes are no longer seen, because 

 they retire under the stables, where they remain till the 

 return of spring.''' 



They feed well in stews ; and Mr. Jesse says of some Carp 

 and Tench, so retained by him, " that they were soon recon- 

 ciled to their situation, and eat boiled potatoes in considerable 

 quantities ; and the former seemed to have lost their original 

 shyness, eating in my presence without any scruple." 



The Carp is exceedingly tenacious of life out of water. 

 Several authors have stated that it is a common practice 

 in Holland to keep them alive for three weeks or a month, 

 by hanging them in a cool place, with wet moss in a net, and 

 feeding them with bread steeped in milk ; taking care to refresh 

 the animal now and then by throwing fresh water over the net 

 in which it is suspended. 



Though not so rapid in their growth as some fish, Carp 

 have attained three pounds' 1 weight by their sixth year, and 

 six pounds 1 weight before their tenth year. The largest 

 I can refer to are thus noticed in Daniel's Rural Sports : 



