64 PRESERVATION OF FISH. 



prod, or poke the points underneath, till they are forced to 

 come out and strike into the net. Carp are driven into 

 their hordes, under the sides, where, with a semicircular 

 net, they are taken, by puddling them till they fly into it. 

 Some have been taken (after first being collected into 

 one place, by feeding with new grains and blood), by 

 intoxicating them with crummy bread squeezed on a stone, 

 impregnated with coculus indicus, and oil of asp. They 

 will come up, and you may take them with a landing- 

 net, but a casting-net is much better. In June, carp 

 and tench are very busy " roding," when you may feed 

 them into the shallow waters, and take them with a 

 casting-net, and stock your stews for the year. Always 

 let the net lie till the fish rise, as carp strike into the 

 mud, if there is any, but cannot remain there long, as it 

 makes them sick. When you drag a pond, have two 

 drags, one about three yards behind the other, as the 

 fish will strike the mud, and let the lead-line slip over 

 them, when, thinking they are safe, they precipitate 

 themselves into the other net. For tench, you may let 

 flews stand with a brass candlestick on each side, a yard 

 distant, on a float : they will fly from one to another. 



To keep trout alive, whilst carrying them a long dis- 

 tance, mix one ounce of white sugar-candy, a piece of 

 saltpetre the size of a walnut, and a table-spoonful of 

 flour together ; this is sufficient for a pailful of water, 

 which must be hard spring water : this proportion, often 

 repeated, will keep them alive. Carp and tench will 

 travel in clean whole wheat-straw many miles, if laid in 

 layers, as the straw retains the air for them to suck. 



