NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Mr. Tail's method of fattening carp. 



fill up the pond again, this will be all buried un- 

 <!or water, and will make a feeding place for the 

 fish, where they will come early in the morn- 

 ing, and will fatten greatly upon what they find 

 i here. 



Mr. Tull, famous for his improvements in hus- 

 bandry, communicated to Sir Hans Sloane the 

 method of fattening carps by castration. The 

 rastrated carp being put into water with six live 

 ones, seemed only a little less brisk in swimming* 

 The castrated carp is said to excel the others in 

 delicacy of flavor as much as a capon docs a cock^ 

 or a fat ox exceeds a bull. 



Of the sound or air-bladder, a kind of fish- 

 glue is made, and a green paint of their gall. 



The carp is held in great esteem by most of 

 the eastern nations. The great Mogul, before. 

 he goes to war, or undertakes any affair of im- 

 portance, prays with his hands resting on a large 

 carp. 



In a domesticated state these fish require some 

 attention, particularly in winter, when care must 

 in- taken that they be not stifled for want of air 

 hmt>ath the ice. When a pond is fro/en, some 

 of the water should be let off, so as to leave a 

 vacancy between it and the ice,- but when the 

 frost is not very intense, holes made in the ice 

 will be found sufficient. These holes, however, 

 should not be made too near the basin, lc!,t 

 the carp be disturbed, when they may leap upon 

 the ice, and perish with cold. When :i pom! 



