THE CARPS 93 



fish, and then to write a few words on his early life 

 history. 



I have fished for salmon on the rushing Spey and 

 in Highland lochs, for sea-trout in Ireland and in the 

 Hebrides, for brown trout in various waters, from a 

 peaty burn on a wild Scotch moor to a crystal stream 

 amongst Swiss mountains, and I can say, without fear 

 of contradiction, that there is no fish that will put up 

 a better fight than a big carp. 



Some years ago I had an opportunity of fishing in a 

 pond, which by report held some monster carp ; not a 

 fish under ten pounds and most of them twenties and 

 thirties ! 



All arrangements had been made for days before, 

 when a friend and I started out at three a.m. on a damp 

 September morning, full of hope. The water was seven 

 miles off, and when we were about two miles from our 

 destination, we simultaneously remembered that the 

 other had forgotten the paste. Of boiled potatoes, 

 lob worms, brandlings, cheese, we had plenty, but 

 what was the good of going carp fishing without 

 paste ? 



Fortunately, we passed a farm-house and saw a 

 light burning, and blessed the people for being such 

 early risers. We found, however, that the previous day 

 had been the farmer's birthday, and he and a few friends 

 were celebrating the occasion, and had not yet gone 

 to bed. We struck the farmer in a most affable mood, 

 and made paste flavoured both with honey and cheese. 



