The Complete Angler. 163 



heard, to above a yard long; though 

 I never faw one above tHrty three 

 inches, which was a very great and 

 goodly fifh. 



Now as the increafe of Carps is 

 wonderful for their number; fo 

 there is not a r^afon found out, I 

 think, by any, why the fhould breed 

 in fome Ponds, and not in others of 

 the famenature,forfoil and all other 

 circumftances; and as their breed- 

 ing, fo are their decayes alfo very 

 myfterious ; I have both read it, 

 and been told by a Gentleman of 

 tryedhoneftie, that he has knowne 

 fixtie or more large Carps put into 

 feveral Ponds neerto a houfe,where 

 by reafon of the flakes in the Ponds, 

 and the Owners conftant being neer 

 to them,it was impoffible they fhould 

 be ftole away from him, and that 

 when he has after three or four years 

 emptied the Pond, and expected an 

 increafe from them by breeding 

 young ones (for that they might do 



M 2 ' fo 



