42 THE FISHING-ROD ; 



they do not grow to so large a size as in a 

 gravelly-bottomed pond. The carp and tench 

 taken from the latter, I have always found of 

 delicious flavour, and well worth the care and 

 trouble required in dressing for the table. 

 Among the various modes of cooking carp, I 

 have always given preference to that of having 

 them stuffed as a pike, and roasted or baked. 

 To my palate they are then truly delicious. 



For carp fishing use a long rod, with winch 

 and running-tackle, also a small quill-float and 

 gut-line, with a No. 7 or 8 hook : and remem- 

 ber, that the gut-line must be as fine and 

 transparent as is consistent with the strength 

 of the fish : and if you are sufficiently skilled 

 to play and kill a carp with a single hair line, 

 by using such, your success will be the more 

 certain. Carp are so extremely wary, that it is 

 only with very fine tackle that large fish can 

 be hooked. 



It is indispensable that the carp angler 

 should keep in the background, and let no 

 moving object or shadow rest within sight of 

 the fish. Do not be constantly taking your 

 line out and examining the bait; but rather, 

 having carefully baited the hook with a good- 



