Chap. 6. Of the CAR P. 187 



have thriven to be more than fifty Pounds 

 Weight. For as the Crocodile is very long- 

 lived, and all that Life continues to thrive in 

 Bignefs, the fame has been remarked of Carps^ 

 cfpecially in fome Places. And as their In- 

 creafe and Growth are very wonderful, fo their 

 Decay is often very myfterious. For when 

 fixty or more large Carps have been put into 

 feveral Ponds near a Houfe, where by reafon 

 of the Stakes in the Water, and the Owner's 

 confbant Vicinity, it was impofTible they fliould 

 be ftole away from him -, at emptying the 

 Pond, after three or four Years, there has been 

 found never a young Carp remaining. This 

 is attributed, and in all Appearance judly, to 

 their being deftroyed by the Frogs, as we ob-, 

 ferved o^ Pikes, 



Though the Age of Carps is by Sir Francis 

 Bacon obferved to be but ten Years j Gefner 

 fays, a Carp has been known to live in the Pa- 

 latinate above a hundred Years : And, con- 

 trary to the Pike^ all Carps are the better for 

 Age and Bignefs. Their Tongues are excel- 

 lent Meat. The Carp is to be reckoned a- 

 mong thofe leather-mouthed Fifh which have 

 their Teeth in their Throat, and for that Rea- 

 fon is very feldom loft by breaking his Hold, 

 if the Hook be once ftuck into his Chaps. 



At the Time of their Breeding, which is in 

 Summer, when the Sun hath warmed both the 

 Earth and the Water, three or four Male Carps 

 will follow a Female, and force her through 

 Weeds and Flags, where fhe lets fall her 



Spawn, 



