CARP. 515 



Species of the eel, of quitting its native element, and breathing at- 

 mospheric air ; climbing up posts or props of any kind, to a con- 

 siderable height, which it effects by means of its peculiarly spinous 

 gill* and fins. 



[Editor. 



SECTION IX. 



Carp. 

 Cjprinus carpio. Linn. 



The cyprinus kind includes between thirty and forty known 

 species, of which the chief are the common carp, tench, barbel, 

 gudgeon, bream, roach, dace, chub, and gold-fish. 



The carp was introduced into England about the year 1514, by 

 Leonard Maschal, to whom we are also indebted for that excellent 

 apple the pepin. Russia wants these fish at this day. Sweden has 

 them only in the ponds of people of fashion. They chiefly abound 

 in the rivers and lakes of Polish Prussia, where they are sometimes 

 taken of a vast size. They are there a great article of commerce, 

 and sent in well-boats to Sweden and Russia. The merchants pur- 

 c ".-ase them out of the waters of the landholders of the country, 

 who draw a good revenue from this article. 



Carp are very long lived. Gesner brings an instance of one that 

 was near 100 years old. They groty also to a very great size. 

 Seme authors speak of carp weighing 200 pounds, and live feet in 

 length. The carp is a prodigious breeder ; its quantity of roe has 

 been sometimes found so great, that when taken out and weighed 

 against the fish itself, the former has been found to preponderate. 

 From the spawn of this fish, caviare is made for the Jews, who 

 hold the sturgeon in abhorrence. The carp is extremely cunning, 

 and on that account is sometimes stiled the river-fox. They will 

 sometimes leap over the nets, and escape that way ; at other times 

 they will immerse themselves so deep in the mud, as to let the net 

 pass over them. They are also very shy in taking a bait ; yet at 

 the spawning time they are so simple, as suffer themselves to be 

 tickled, handled, and caught, by any body that will attempt it. 

 This fish is apt to mix its milt with the roe of other fish, from 

 which is produced a spurious breed, as has been observed in the 

 offspring of the carp and tench, which bore the greatest resemblance 



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