12(5 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Cimningness of the carp. 



under this seemingly unnatural treatment." 

 This strange account is partly confirmed by 

 Mr. Daines Barrington, in a note, who mentions 

 the practice of a certaJn fishmonger near Clare- 

 market, who, in the winter, frequently exposes 

 a bushel at least of carp and tench for sale, in the 

 tame dry vessel, for six or seven hours ; many 

 of which are not suld, and yet continue in health, 

 though breathing nothing but air during the 

 time above-mentioned, for several successive 

 days. 



From the spawn of this fish, caviare is made 

 for the Jews, who hold the sturgeon in abhor- 

 rence. The carp is extremely cunning, and on 

 that account is sometimes styled the river-fox. 

 When attempted to be taken by nets, they will 

 sometimes leap over them, and escape that way; 

 at other times they will immerse themselves so 

 deep in the mud as to let the net pass over them. 

 They are also very shy in taking a bait ; yet at 

 the spawning time they are so simple as to suffer 

 themselves to be tickled, handled, and caught 

 by any body who will attempt it. 



Having observed that the carp is the most 

 raluable of all fish for stocking of ponds ; we 

 shall now give some directions for so doing. 

 The females do not begin to breed till eight 

 r nine years old ; so that in breeding-ponds 

 a supply must be kept of carp of that age. 

 Tne best judges allow, that in stocking a breed- 

 ing-pond, four males should be allowed te 

 3 



