THE CARP. 121 



Their flavour differs according to their residence. 



" Rural Sports/' proves to be erroneous, " for" 

 says this author, " in the Boke of St. Albans, 

 printed at Westminster, by Wynken de Worde, 

 in 1496, that carp was mentioned as a dayntous 

 Jishe although scarce." From whence they were 

 transplanted cannot be ascertained. Russia wants 

 these fish at this day, and in Sweden the}' are 

 only in the ponds of persons of distinction. Po- 

 lish Prussia, is the chief seat of the carp, where 

 they abound in the rivers and lakes, and are 

 taken of a great weight are an article of com- 

 merce are brought by the merchants from the 

 waters of the noblesse, and are conveyed in 

 well-boats, to the two first mentioned countries. 



Carp are found in gentle currents, lakes, and 

 ponds. Their flavour differs according to the 

 waters in which they reside, and causes them to 

 be distinguished by the names of river, lake, and 

 pond carp. The first are accounted the best, 

 and the last the worst ; those inhabiting a lake^ 

 or pond, through which runs a stream, that fur- 

 nishes them with a continual supply of fresh wa- 

 ter, are far superior to any others. Their colour 

 indicates in what water they have been caught. 

 The carp of rivers, or large lakes, are generally 

 yellow, while those of the ponds are dark green, 

 or inclined to black. The latter commonly have 

 a. taste of mud, but this they lose if put into clear 

 water a few weeks, or left for some days in a cage 

 in the current of a river. 



Carp, from their quick growth and vast in- 



VoLi V. NO. 33. 



