198 CYPRINIDiE. 



induce bottom-fishing anglers at home to take some pleasure in 

 their pursuit and capture, but that is invariably in such slow 

 and sluggish waters as contain no gamer or more delicate fish ; 

 and the dull, loggy, watery fish themselves, and the cockney 

 punt-fishers, who aspire to take them, are held in about equal 

 esteem, or disesteem, by those who know what it is to throw a 

 long line lightly, with a cast of flies, for the vigorous-speckled 

 Trout, or to spin, or even troll, with the parr or minnow, for 

 the savage and voracious Pike or Salmon. 



In America, none of the Leucisci, Chub, Roach, Dace, or 

 Shiners, and none of the Abramis, Bream, exceed five or six 

 inches in length, and consequently are never subjects of more 

 serious pursuit than the holiday crooked-pin and angle-worm 

 fishing of school-boys. They are the detestation of the Trout 

 bottom-angler, constantly nibbling away his bait, and tantalising 

 him with vain hopes of a bite. 



Of this family, therefore, so far as the true American genera 

 are concerned, no notice need be taken in a sporting work, 

 except as relates to two or three little fishes, to which I shall 

 devote a few lines each, as being excellent bait for all the larger 

 and bolder fishes. 



Within the last few years, however, two European varieties 

 have been introduced, and have become entirely naturalised in 

 some of our waters. The Gold Carp {Cyprinus Auratus of Lin- 

 njEus and Cuvier), or common Gold and Silver Fish of China, in 

 the Schuylkill, and in some streams of Massachusetts, and the 

 Common Carp of Europe, whose title stands at the head of this 

 paper, in the Hudson, especially in the vicinity of Newburgh. 



The former of these little fish is, indeed, unworthy of notice. 



