9<5 MARVELS OF FISH LIFE 



begin to show themselves, and in May and June they 

 spawn. 



If one has never seen carp spawning, it is difficult to 

 imagine that these clumsy-looking fish could suddenly 

 become so active. Rushing about, they chase each other, 

 churning the surface into froth with their violent splash- 

 ing, and frequently jumping a foot or more out of the 

 water. When the spawning actually commences, the 

 female fish deposits her eggs on the vegetation at the 

 side of the pond, and as soon as she leaves, the male, 

 dashing forward, fertilises these eggs by shedding his 

 milt, or soft roe, over them. 



The eggs are deposited at irregular intervals, and 

 I see from my notes on carp that I have taken a fish 

 full of spawn as late as September 9th. This bears 

 out the statement that the eggs of one season may 

 be retained until the following year. 



Carp feed on larvse and insects, and young shoots 

 of aquatic vegetation, picking up most of their food off 

 the bottom. 



As every angler knows, carp, tench and other fish, 

 when feeding on the bottom, disturb the dead leaves, 

 and bubbles of gas rise to the surface. I have met 

 fishermen who profess to tell by the way these bubbles 

 come up what sort of a fish is on the feed, and on more 

 occasions than one I have found their statements to be 

 quite correct. 



When a carp detects food, either by touch or smell, 

 he shoots out his thick leathery lips, and the food is 



