62 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HU.NTER. 



The incredible increase of fishes has been a matter 

 of immemorial observation. In the retired lakes and 

 streams we speak of, but for a wise arrangement of 

 Providence, it seems not improbable that they would 

 outgrow the very space occupied by the element in 

 which they exist, To prevent this consummation, there 

 are fresh water fiends, more terrible than the wolves and 

 tigers of the land, that prowl on the finny tribe, with an 

 appetite commensurate with their plentifulness, destroy- 

 ing millions in a day, yet leaving, from their abundance, 

 untold numbers to follow their habits and the cycle of 

 their existence undisturbed. These terrible destroyers 

 have no true representatives in the sea ; they seem to 

 be peculiar to waters tributary to the Mississippi. 



speaking of the Eui-opean carp, that we are tempted to make 

 one or two extracts that are remarkable for their truthfulness 

 as applied to the section of the United States wliere arrow- 

 fishing is a sport. In the work we allude to, we have the fol- 

 lowing: , 



"The usual length of the carp in our own country (England) 

 is from about twelve to fifteen or sixteen inches ; but «i warm 

 climates, it often arrives at the length of two, three, or four feet, 

 and to the weight of twenty, thirty, or even forty pounds." 

 Par. 3448. Again, " The haunts of the carp of stagnant water 

 are, during the spring and autumn months, in the deepest parts, 

 particularl}' near the flood-gates by Avhich water is received and 

 let off. In the summer months they frequent the weed beds, 

 and come near to the surface, and particularly are fond of aquatic 

 plants, which spring from the bottom and rise to the top." Par. 

 3453. We find that the fish retains the same distinctive habits 

 in both hemispheres, altering only from the peculiarities of the 

 countrv. 



