40 BAIT FOR AND FOOD OF CARP. 



carp wliicli is well worth trying. Take a tuft of turf the 

 size of a diuner-plate, the grass of which is green and 

 short ; then with a needle and thread, the thread being 

 green, sew on red worms so as almost to cover the turf; 

 fasten the turf to a board and sink it to the bottom. 



I will now give the following excellent hint to anglers 

 for carp, which I have no hesitation in saying is fair 

 fishing, and will frequently dodge the carp when their 

 manner is defiant towards the angler. In places where 

 there are water-lilies and other floating broad-leaved 

 weeds, put one single shot only on the gut, and place 

 this shot on one of the leaves, allowing the bait, which 

 should be a nice lively worm, to hang over the leaf. 

 When you see the ^hot slipping off the leaf you may be 

 pretty certain the carp has got the bait ; give him time 

 to get the worm and hook well within his leathery 

 mouth and then strike. The astonishment of that carp 

 will be great. 



The muddy flavour of carp is due to the food which 

 they eat, namely, the water-plants and the various 

 insects and larv« ; especially, I believe, the larvae of 

 midges and gnats, which they find in the mud. Carp 

 also eat young shoots of water-plants and large water- 

 beetles, and I recommend that in carp ponds the water 

 should be let down, and grass seed sown along the 

 edges and mud. When the grass has sprouted shut the 

 hatches, and let the water cover the grass, which will 

 afford excellent pasture for the carp ; and here let me 

 tell proprietors of carp ponds that it is very cruel not to 

 feed their fish (see page 334). 



Carp have more than once given origin to fairy 

 stories. I was told that fairies could be seen dancing 

 on bright moonlight nights in a certain lake in Ireland. 

 The water was very still but showed rings innumerable. 



