160 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [parti. 



trary, the elephant is said to be two years in his 

 dam's belly, some think he is ten years in it, and 

 being born, grows in bigness twenty years ; and 

 'tis observed too that he lives to the age of a hun- 

 dred years. And 'tis also observed, that the croco- 

 dile is very long-lived, and more than that, that all 

 that long life he thrives in bigness : and so I think 

 some Carps do, especially in some places ; though I 

 never saw one above twenty-three inches, which was 

 a great and goodly fish ; but have been assured there 

 are of a far 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 circumstances. 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 own- 

 er's constant being near to them, it was impossible 

 they should be stolen 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 nei- 

 ther a young nor old Carp remaining. And the like 

 I have known of one that has almost watched the 



