CHAPTER IX 



Observations of the Carp ; with Directions how to Fish for him. 



ISC. The Carp is the queen of rivers ; a stately, a 

 good, and a very subtle fish ; that was riot at first 

 bred, nor hath been long in England, but is now 

 naturalised. It is said they were brought hither 

 by one Mr. Mascal, a gentleman that then lived at 

 Plumstead, in Sussex, a county that abounds more 

 with fish than any in this nation. 

 You may remember that I told you Gesner says there are no pikes 

 in Spain ; and doubtless there was a time, about a hundred or a few 

 more years ago, when there were no carps in England, as may seem 

 to be affirmed by Sir Richard Baker, in whose Chronicle you may find 

 these verses : 



Hops and turkeys^ carps and beer^ 

 Came into England all in a year. 



And doubtless, as of sea-fish the herring dies soonest out of the 



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