I 



CRUCIAN OR PRUSSIAN CARP. 65 



CHAP. XIV. 



CRUCIAN OR PRUSSIAN CARP. 



THIS fish is not very common in England. 

 By some persons it is supposed to be a cross 

 breed, between the Carp and Roach, as it 

 favours both in appearance, the scales and 

 head resembling the Carp, the fins and flat 

 body the Roach ; it is a poor bony fish, the 

 flesh soft and insipid : the Crucian Carp sel- 

 dom reach a pound weight. They breed fre- 

 quently, for which reason they are useful in 

 ponds, as food for the Jack and Pike, and 

 large Eels are also fond of them ; you may 

 bait trimmers, night-lines, and hooks, with 

 the Crucians, to lay in ponds, moats, pits or 

 canals, with success, but I never found them 

 good bait in a river. These fish breed, and 

 are very numerous, in many ponds round 

 London, particularly in those on Clapham 

 F 



