68 THE CARP. 



cause of some anglers calling it a pair of bellows, it hav* 

 ing much the appearance of that article of housewifery. 

 Its back is of a blue-black, the sides are of a yellowish 

 colour, and the belly reddish ; the tail is forked, and the 

 head somewhat broad and smooth. When it is hooked 

 it struggles hard and requires time in landing it. The 

 tackle must be firm and strong, the hook No. 8. 



THE CARP 



Is by nature a cunning fish, and by some is called "the 

 fresh-water fox ;" it is a leathern-mouthed fish; its back 

 rises from its head, somewhat sharp and edged, and is 

 generally of a yellowish olive ; it has large broad scales, 

 its fins are purple-brown, and the tail slightly forked. 

 Its chief spawning time is in May, though it is said they 

 spawn several times in the year. Their haunts are ex- 

 actly the same as the bream's, and the bait is the green 

 cabbage-grub, wasp-grub, gentle, brambling, red-worm, 

 and crumbs of white bread and honey made into a paste, 

 some use green peas parboiled, but I never tried them. 

 The rod should be long and strong, the line strong in 

 proportion, with a quill float, and gut next to the hook, 

 which should be a No. 8, and it must lie at the bottom, 

 except in spawning time when you fish amongst the 

 weeds, when it should be near the top of the water. 

 When you intend to bait the place where you are going 

 to angle at, do it with the same composition that I re- 

 commend for the barbel, and use the same for bream. 

 "You must keep out of sight as much as possible, for 



