152 



THE CARP OR TENCH. 



rally supposed to have been carried to England about 1514.* 

 The quantity of roes exhuded by the female far exceeds the 

 weight of her body. 



" Though denominated the wise on account of its sagacity, 

 yet in the spawning season it will allow the Angler to tickle 

 its sides, and is thus easily captured." 



In warm climates they are said to grow to a very large size, 

 and often weigh thirty to forty pounds, and measure in length 

 three or four feet. They are known generally in England, 

 Germany, Russia, France, Italy, and Prussia, in which latter 

 country they grow to the enormous size mentioned. They 

 are said to live to a great age, instances being found where 

 they have been supposed to be 1 00 years old. 



There are from twenty to thirty different species of the 

 carp, most of which give sport to the Angler. Of the com- 

 mon carp of England, Blaine remarks: " Its general color is 

 a yellowish olive, much deeper and 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 moderate- 

 ly long cirrus or beard, and above the nostrils is a much 

 smaller and shorter pair ; the lateral line is slightly curved, 

 and marked by a row of blackish specks ; the fins are violet 

 brown, except the anal, which has a reddish tinge ; the dor- 

 sal fin is broad, or continued to some distance from the mid- 

 dle of the back towards the tail, which is slightly forked, 

 with rounded lobes." 



* There is an old distich in reference to their introduction into Kng- 

 land in 1514, which says 



" Hops and turkie?, carp and beer, 

 Came into England all in a year; 



which is entirely disproved by the authoress of 1486, who says he is a 

 " deyntous fysshe," and gives directions for the " harnavs " or tackle for 

 taking him. 



