THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 189 



most hardness, and lives longest out of his own 

 proper element ; and therefore the report of the 

 carp's being brought out of a foreign country into 

 this nation is the more probable. 



Carps and loaches are observed to breed several 

 months in one year, which pikes and most other 

 fish do not. And this is partly proved by tame 

 and wild rabbits, as also by some ducks, which 

 will lay eggs nine of the twelve months ; and yet 

 there be other ducks that lay not longer than 

 about one month. And it is the rather to be 

 believed, because you shall scarce or never take a 

 male carp without a melt, or a female without 

 a roe or spawn, and for the most part very 

 much, and especially all the summer season; 

 and it is observed that they breed more natu- 

 rally in ponds than in running waters, if they 

 breed there at all ; and that those that live in 

 rivers are taken by men of the best palates to be 

 much the better meat. 



And it is observed that in some ponds carps 

 will not breed, especially in cold ponds; but 

 where they will breed they breed innumerably : 

 Aristotle and Pliny say six times in a year, if there 

 be no pikes nor perch to devour their spawn when 

 it is cast upon grass or flags or weeds, where it 

 lies ten or twelve days before it be enlivened. 



The carp, if he have water-room and good feed, 

 will grow to a very great bigness and length ; I 

 have heard to be much above a yard long. 'T is 

 said by Jovius, who hath writ of fishes, that in the 



