60 THE ASP. 



The asp inhabits both still and running water ; the latter, 

 it would appear, in preference. It feeds not only on worms, 

 mollusca, &c., but on small fish. It is the most voracious 

 of the carp tribe, and is said not unfrequently to chase other 

 fish with such eagerness as to drive its victim as well as 

 itself ashore. When spinning for trout, &c., we not 

 seldom met with it in strong rapids, where it would 

 seize the bait with avidity. It does not survive long after 

 being taken out of the water. 



As with most others of the Cyprini, it is not in much 

 request in Sweden for the table. 



In our part of the Wenern, the asp spawned in April or 

 beginning of May. There was a celebrated lek not very 

 far from Ronnum, at which about one hundred and fifty 

 lispund, or three thousand pounds weight of this fish 

 were taken annually. Of its habits at this period I am 

 in ignorance, as also as to the length of time that elapses 

 before the eggs are hatched, and equally so as to the growth 

 of the fry. 



It was curious that no person on the Wenern or the 

 Gotha could point out to me the young of the asp. And 

 this was the more singular, as owing to the remarkable 

 elongation of the lower jaw (possibly, however, not very 

 observable when young), one would naturally have supposed 

 it was readily distinguishable from other fish. 



The asp grows to a large size. We ourselves never cap- 

 tured one exceeding twelve to thirteen pounds ; but a friend 

 resident on the northern shores of the Wenern assures me 

 that with him it attains to eighteen pounds in weight. 



