13 



years from 8 Ibs. to 10 Ibs.; and after that increasing at the 

 rate of 1^ to !- Ib. each year, until they arrive at nearly 30 

 Ibs., when it may be concluded that the fish is about twen- 

 ty years old : some grow faster than others, especially the 

 Spiegel carp. When fish get to nearly the last-men- 

 tioned weight, it seems as if nature then intended them for 

 breeding only, and not for food, as they are hideously 

 coarse, whereas a 10-lb. well-fed carp is a great delicacy. 

 I should recommend those who may think the weights 

 given above to be fabulous, to pay a visit to Mr. Pitman, 

 Fishmonger, Leadenhall Market, who has a stuffed carp 

 that came from Antwerp or the neighbourhood, and which 

 I consider had attained the age of eighteen or twenty years. 

 It was dead when he bought it, and weighed 28^ Ibs. ; it 

 was moreover out of condition, for according to its length, 

 3 feet 4 inches, it ought to have drawn at least 5 Ibs. more. 

 Mr. Pitman is extremely well versed in piscatory science, 

 and is not only a connoisseur, but invariably collects the 

 lusus naturae of his market, to enlighten himself and the 

 cognoscenti : moreover, what experience he possesses, and 

 that is not a little, he with pleasure imparts to others in a 

 very unassuming and bland manner, and a more affable, 

 kind-hearted person is not often met with. 



The carp is a particularly shy and cautious fish, wary 

 and mistrustful in the extreme when obliged to hunt for 

 food, but when in stews with plenty of food, he becomes 



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