96 BOTTOM OR FLOAT-FISHING. 



come when called by their names ; and Buffon 

 assures us that he had seen in the fosses of the 

 Ponchartrain, Carp which were known to be up- 

 wards of a century and a half old. 



A year or two ago a series of ponds near 

 Cumberland Lodge, Windsor Park, were run off for 

 the purpose of getting rid of the Jack ; and the 

 result of the netting illustrated in a remarkable way 

 the slow growth-rate of the Carp. Thus, nearly all 

 the Carp taken from the Obelisk pond were of a 

 very similar weight, viz. : from 4 Ibs. to 6 Ibs. 

 These fish, within the positive knowledge of the 

 Head Fisherman, were fifty years old -at least. 

 They had been twice removed during his memory 

 from the different ponds, the last time some thirty- 

 five years previous, when they weighed about 3 Ibs. 

 each. Their subsequent growth-rate could not 

 have averaged therefore more than about an ounce 

 a year. Old Carp are very bad breeders, and 

 frequently retain their eggs for years, presenting 

 occasionally the appearance of an immense tumour 

 in the region of the abdomen. 



During the winter months it is probable that 

 both Carp and Tench retire almost wholly into the 



