156 THE COMPLETE ANGLER 



have been assured there are of a greater size, and 

 in England too. 



Now, as the increase of carps is wonderful for their 

 number, so there is not a reason found out, I think, by 

 any, why they should breed in some ponds, and not 

 in others of the same nature for soil and all other circum- 

 stances. And as their breeding, so are their decays 

 also very mysterious : I have both read it, and been told 

 by a gentleman of tried honesty, that he has known 

 sixty or more large carps put into several ponds near 

 to a house, where, by reason of the stakes in the ponds, 

 and the owner's constant being near to them, it was 

 impossible they should be stole away from him ; and 

 that when he has, after three or four years, emptied 

 the pond, and expected an increase from them by breeding 

 young ones (for that they might do so, he had, as the 

 rule is, put in three melters for one spawner), he has, 

 I say, after three or four years, found neither a young 

 nor old carp remaining. And the like I have known 

 of one that had almost watched the pond, and at a 

 like distance of time, at the fishing of the pond, found, 

 of seventy or eighty large carps, not above five or six ; 

 and that he had forborne longer to fish the said pond, 

 but that he saw, in a hot day in summer, a large carp 

 swim near the top of the water with a frog upon his 

 head ; and that he, upon that occasion, caused his pond 

 to be let dry : and I say, of seventy or eighty carps, only 

 found five or six in the said pond, and those very sick 

 and lean, and with every one a frog sticking so fast 

 on the head of the said carps, that the frog would not be 

 got off without extreme force or killing. And the gentle- 

 man that did affirm this to me, told me he saw it ; and 

 did declare his belief to be, and I also believe the same, 

 that he thought the other carps, that were so strangely 

 lost, were so killed by the frogs, and then devoured. 



And a person of honour, now living in Worcestershire, 



