248 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



carps to be very medicinable. But it is not to be doubted 

 but that in Italy they make great profit of the spawn of 

 carps, by selling it to the Jews, who make it into red caviare; 

 the Jews not being by their law admitted to eat of caviare 

 made of the sturgeon, that being a fish that wants scales, and, 

 as may appear in Lev. xi. 10, by them reputed to be unclean. 



Much more might be said out of him, and out of 

 Aristotle, which Dubravius often quotes in his Discourse of 

 Fishes ; but it might rather perplex than satisfy you ; and 

 therefore I shall rather choose to direct you how to catch, 

 than spend more time in discoursing either of the nature or 

 the breeding of this carp, or of any more circumstances con- 

 cerning him ; but yet I shall remember you of what I told 

 you before, that he is a very subtle fish, and hard to be caught. 



And my first direction is, that if you will fish for a carp, 

 you must put on a very large measure of patience ; especially 

 to fish for a river-carp. I have known a very good fisher 

 angle diligently four or six hours in a day, for three or four 

 days together, for a river-carp, and not have a bite. And 

 you are to note, that in some ponds it is as hard to catch a 

 carp as in a river ; that is to say, where they have store of 

 feed, and the water is of a clayish colour ; but you are to 

 remember I have told you there is no rule without an ex- 

 ception ; and therefore being possessed with that hope and 

 patience which I wish to all fishers, especially to the carp 

 angler, I shall tell you with what bait to fish for him. But 

 first you are to know, that it must be either early or late ; 

 and let me tell you, that in hot weather, for he will seldom 

 bite in cold, you cannot be too early or too late at it. And 

 some have been so curious as to say, the Tenth of April is a 

 fatal day for carps. 



