13 



name of cyprinus to tliis fish ; probably from that designation 

 having been bestowed by the ancients on a fish supposed to be 

 identical with the carp. Cassiodorus is the oldest author who 

 uses the word carpa. He lived in the sixth century ; and where 

 speaking of the most costly fish, which then appeared on the 

 tables of princes, says, "among these is the carpa, which is 

 produced in the Danube." It is probable, therefore, that we have 

 to thank the Danube for its introduction into England. When 

 that introduction took place, does not seem quite clear. According 

 to Anderson's History of Commerce, they were first brought into 

 England in 1514. But it is perfectly certain they were in this 

 kingdom before 1486 ; for in that year was published, perhaps 

 the only work on angling ever written by a lady — Dame Juliana 

 Bemers's Book of St. Albans. She says, speaking of the carp, 

 " It is a dayntious fyshe ; but there ben but few in Englonde, 

 and therefore I write the lesse of hym." She however observes, 

 " he is an envyll fisshe to take ; and there maye noe weke 

 harnays hold hym." 



The great carp countries now, are Austria and Prussia. In 

 the latter, I have seen many specimens weighing from sixteen 

 to eighteen pounds each. They thrive well here, but seldom 

 attain the size just quoted. There is a painting of one, however, 

 at Weston Hall, Staffordshire, which weighed nineteen and a half 

 pounds. They are probably the most productive of fresh-water 

 fishes ; Bloch having, he says, found 600,000 eggs, in a carp of 

 nine pounds. Though stiU held in some estimation, they do not 

 appear to be as highly prized by the moderns as by the ancients. 

 if we are to believe Krunitz, Heliogabalus invented a fricassee of 

 carp's tongues. Krunitz was, however, mistaken , the tongues 

 were those of peacocks and nightingales. Bloch asserts they have 

 no tongae. So does Aristotle. Athenseus says they have a 

 tongue, but that it lies in the upper part of the mouth, or palate. 

 The fact is, the palate of the carp is a thick soft substance, even 

 now vulgarly called " carp's tongue ;" and certainly it is the 

 most dainty part of the fish. 



Of the rest of this genus^ with the exception of the tench, 



