COMMON CARP, 185 



A pond intended for spawning must be well cleared 

 of all other kinds of fish ; especially such as are of 

 a rapacious nature, viz. pike, perch, eel, arid trout : 

 and also of all newts or larvae of lizards, as well as 

 of the dytisci or water-beetles, which frequently 

 destroy quantities of the fry, to the great loss of the 

 owner. A rich soil, gently sloping banks, mild 

 springs, or a constant supply of good soft water, 

 with a fine exposure to sun and air, are the chief 

 requisites for a good spawning-pond. A pond of 

 the size of about one acre requires three or four 

 male carp, and six or eight female ones ; and 

 thus further, in proportion to each acre, the same 

 number of males and females. The best carp for 

 breeders are five, six, or seven years old, in good 

 health, in full scale, without any blemish or wound, 

 especially such as are caused by the Lerncea Cyprini 

 Lin. (a kind of cartilaginous worm with fine full 

 eyes and a long body). Such as are sickly, move 

 not briskly; have spots, as if they had the small- 

 pox, have, either lost their scales, or have them 

 sticking but loosely to the body, whose eyes lie deep 

 in their heads, are short, deep, and lean, will never 

 produce a good breed. Being provided with a set 

 of carp such as are here described, and sufficient to 

 stock a pond with, it is best to put them, on a fine 

 calm day, the latter end of March, or in April, into 

 the spawning-pond. Care must be taken that the 

 fish be not too much hurt by being transported in 

 a hogshead, nor put into the pond on a stormy 

 day ; for they are easily thrown upon the shallows 

 on the sides, being weak, and harrassed by being 

 caught, removed, and not yet acquainted with the 



