THE CARP. 903 



THE CARP. 



Carp is a naturalized fish, but by whom and at what tin:e 

 IS not accurately known. Leonard Mascall, who lived in 

 ] 600, takes to himself the credit of introducing this fish ; 

 but we have sufficient proof of its existence in England 

 long before that time, as Wynkyn de Worde printed the 

 celebrated " Boke of St. Albans, by Dame Juliana Barnes," 

 in 1496, wherein the carp is expressly mentioned. 



The carp is a native of Polish Prussia, and abounds in the 

 rivers and lakes of that country, where it grows to a great 

 weight. Carp are known to live to a great age ; one men- 

 tioned by Gesner lived to the age of one hundred. 



In this country the carp inhabits ponds and lakes, but 

 seems to prefer the latter, and locates in parts where the 

 current is not too strong, and thrive best on soft and muddy 

 bottoms ; but they breed best in ponds and lakes, and spawn 

 in the end of May or beginning of June. They grow to the 

 weight of three pounds in six years, and six pounds in ten 

 years. Mr. Daniel mentions that " Mr. Ladbroke, from his 

 park at Gratton, presented Lord Egremont with a brace that 

 weighed thirty-five pounds, as specimens to ascertain whether 

 Surrey could not vie with Sussex carp.'^ 



Carp are not easily taken by angling : a person may be 

 successful one day, while he will hardly kill a fish the next. 

 They are in season from October to April. 



No fish is more wary than carp, and when aged are very 

 difficult to take, although small ones will bite eagerly : the 

 rod should be strong, and the place intended to be fished 

 should be ground-baited the previous night with grain, or 

 worms cut in small pieces, incorporated with clay. The 

 hooks used in angling should be red worms taken out of tan, 

 flag or raarsh-worms, green peas, so boiled as to soften but 



