14 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



4.— CAKI* IIV flVCIiAIVD IIV THE ©EVENTKEIVTH CENTURY. 

 By THOMAS FUI.L,EK. 



[Frem Worthies of England, 1662.] 



It is a stately fisL, but not long naturalized in England, and of all 

 fresh-water fishes (the eel only excepted) lives longest out of his proper 

 element. They breed (which most other fishes do not) several months 

 in one year; though in cold ponds they take no comfort to increase. 

 A learned writer [Sir Francis Bacon, in his History of Life and Death] 

 observeth, they live but ten years ; though others assign them a far 

 longer life. 



They are the better for their age and bigness [Gesnar and Janus Du- 

 branius] (a rule which holds not in other fishes); and their tongues by 

 ancient Koman palate-men were counted most delicious meat; though, 

 to speak properly, they have either no tongues in their mouths, or all 

 their mouths are tongues, as filled with a carneous substance, whilst 

 their teeth are found in their throats. There is a kind of frog whicli is 

 a professed foe unto them ; insomuch, that of a hundred carps put into 

 a pond, not five of them have been found therein a year after. And 

 though some may say perchance two-legged frogs stole them away, yet 

 the strict care of their owners in watching them disproved all suspicion 

 thereof. 



Kow as this [Sussex] county is eminent for both sea and river fish, 

 namely, an Arundel mullet, a Chichester lobster, a Shelsey cockle, and 

 an Amerly trout ; so Sussex aboundeth with more carps than any other 

 of this nation. And though not so great as Jovius reporteth to be found 

 in the Lurian Lake in Italy, Aveighing more than 50 pounds,* yet those 

 generally of great and goodly proportion. I need not add, that physi- 

 cians account the galls of carps, as also a stone in their heads, to be 

 medicinable ; only I will observe that, because Jews will not eat ca\ iare 

 made of sturgeon (because coming from a fish wanting scales, and there- 

 fore forbidden in the Levitical law), therefore the Italians make greater 

 profit of the si)awn of carps, whereof they make a red caviare, well 

 pleasing the Jews both in palate and conscience. 



All I will add of carps is this, that Eamus himself doth not so luuch 

 redound in dichotomies as they do ; seeing no one bone is to be found 

 in their body, which is not forked or divided into two parts at the end 

 thereof. 



*Mr. Pennant notices from Jovins, that they were sometimes taken in the Lacus 

 Lurius, of 200 ponnds weight, hut of his own knowledge could speak of none that ex- 

 ceeded 20. Others are reported to have been taken in the Dueister that were 5 feet 

 in leujith. — Nuttall. 



