CH. III.] TENCH QUALITY AND CONDITION OF FISH. 45 



the very large ones) perhaps not more than a 

 hundred weighing above six pounds. But to give 

 an idea of the number of fish in them, he con- 

 siders that on a favourable day in April a single 

 rod may calculate upon catching from a hundred 

 to a hundred and fifty pounds weight of Carp. 



Tench he finds to be very slow growers, and 

 he has a difficulty in ascertaining what water 

 suits them best. One year he had them up to 

 two pounds, but they were so much sought after, 

 that he was induced to allow all the best to be 

 sold, and there are now not many of above a 

 pound. The last has been an unusually favourable 

 breeding season for them, and at least ten thou- 

 sand have been thus added to his stock. He 

 considers them, for the table, by far the best fish 

 in his waters, being firm and full flavoured, 

 without the least taint of mud, so much so 

 indeed that they are found to be better plain- 

 boiled than dressed in any other way. The Carp 

 are also extremely good in quality, having a curd 

 like Salmon, and their condition, when in season, 

 being such, that the under side of one of four 

 or five pounds ordinarily exhibits a coating of 

 fat perhaps a quarter of an inch in thickness. 



There can surely be no reason why breeds of 



