40 A BOOK OF THE RUNNING BROOK: 



first brought over to England by monks who were 

 wise enough to appreciate their merits. Carp 

 were peculiarly well fitted to receive the atten- 

 tion of monasteries, for no fish were better 

 adapted to thrive in the stews and fishponds 

 where the monks of old usually kept their finny 

 live-stock. 



Most fish that do well in ponds yet would 

 prefer a river, but the carp, on the contrary, 

 attains his greatest size and excellence only in 

 ponds. 



Carp have been introduced into both Ireland 

 and Scotland, but in the latter country the 

 efforts to establish them have not been success- 

 ful. In most places in Scotland they either do 

 not breed at all, or they breed very slowly, 

 which, for so remarkably prolific a fish, is 

 curious. However, the endless caprices of carp 

 must be accepted. 



Professor Spencer F. Baird, United States 

 Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, was the 

 first American who saw how very important the 

 question of food-fish was becoming. After 

 many investigations carried on chiefly in 



