50 ART OF ANGLING. 



CARP. 



THE Carp is a native of the southern parts of 

 Europe, and was introduced into England in the 

 year 1514. The usual length of it is from 

 twelve to fifteen inches ; but it sometimes ar- 

 rives at the length of two or three feet, and 

 weighs from twenty to thirty pounds. Its gen- 

 eral colour is a yellowish olive, much deeper 

 or browner on the back, and accompanied 

 with a slightly gilded tinge on the sides ; the 

 scales are large, rounded, and very distinct ; the 

 head is large, and the mouth furnished on each 

 side with a long beard or wattle, and above the 

 nostrils is a much smaller and shorter pair ; the 

 fins are violet brown, and the tail slightly forked. 



The Carp spawns in May, June, or July, ac- 

 cording as the warm season sets in ; at this 

 time it swims to shallow, warm and sheltered 

 places, when the female deposits the spawn 

 where the bottom is somewhat gritty, about the 



