THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 67 



water when in a state of perspiration, and always wear 

 flannel next the skin. These remarks apply particularly to 

 anglers who are over forty years of age. 



Carp (Cyprinus carpio). This is a rather handsome 

 fish. It is leather-mouthed, destitute of teeth, but has 

 some bones at the entrance to the gullet which serve 

 as such. This fish is not a native of Britain, but was 

 imported to the country by the monks in the fifteenth 

 century. It lives to a great age, and can exist out of 

 water longer than any other fish. The back is arched, 



THE CARP. 



colour of a golden greenish hue, very long dorsal fin, and 

 the tail is broad and deeply forked. The carp lives on 

 aquatic plants and the insects it obtains from them. Its 

 fecundity is very great, more than one hundred thousand 

 eggs have been taken from one of moderate size. It is 

 found in ponds and the deep still parts of a river. The 

 flesh is not much appreciated. Carp are wary and shy of 

 taking bait, and not much sought after by the angler. 



Carp Fishing. The best bait for this fish is a well 

 scoured worm, baited upon a No. 5 or 6 hook. Tackle 

 should be strong, as the fish when hooked fights in a dogged 

 kind of way. A light float ought to be used, and a sinker 

 of shot to keep the worm on the bottom. The carp 



