244 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



of water, and of fresh-water fish the trout, so, except the 

 eel, the carp endures most hardness, and lives longest out 

 of his own proper element. b And therefore, the report of 

 the carp's being brought out of a foreign country into this 

 nation is the more probable. 



Carps and loaches are observed to breed several months 

 in one year, which pikes and most other fish do not. 1 And 

 this is partly proved by tame and wild rabbits; and also by 

 some ducks, which will lay eggs nine of the twelve months ; 

 and yet there be other ducks that lay not longer than about 

 one month. And it is the rather to be believed, because 

 you shall scarce or never take a male carp without a melt, 

 and a female without a roe or spawn, and for the most part 

 very much, and especially all the summer season. And it 

 is observed that they breed more naturally in ponds than 

 in running waters, if they breed there at all; and that those 

 that live in rivers are taken by men of the best palates to 

 be much the better meat. 



And it is observed, that in some ponds carps will not 

 breed, especially in cold ponds ; but where they will breed 

 they breed innumerably : Aristotle and Pliny say six times 

 in a year, if there be no pikes or perch to devour their 

 spawn, when it is cast upon grass, or flags, or weeds, where 

 it lies ten or twelve days before it be enlivened. 



The carp, if he have water room and good feed, will grow 

 to a very great bigness and length ; I have heard, to be 

 much above a yard long. It is said by Jovius, who hath 

 writ of fishes, that in the lake Lurian in Italy, carps have 

 thriven to be more than fifty pounds weight ; which is the 

 more probable, for as the bear is conceived and born sud- 

 denly, and being born is but short-lived, so, on the contrary, 



