THE CARP 175 



from him ; and that when he has, after three or four 

 years, emptied the pond, and expected an increase 

 from them by breeding young ones (for that they 

 might do so, he had, as the rule is, put in three 

 melters for one spawner), he has, I say, after three or 

 four years, found neither a young nor old Carp 

 remaining. And the like I have known of one 

 that had almost watched the pond, and at a like 

 distance of time, at the fishing of the pond, found, 

 of seventy or eighty large Carps, not above five or 

 six ; and that he had forborne longer to fish the 

 said pond, but that he saw, in a hot day in summer, 

 a large Carp swim near the top of the water with a 

 frog upon his head ; and that he, upon that occasion, 

 caused his pond to be let dry ; and I say, of 

 seventy or eighty Carps, only found five or six in 

 the said pond, and those very sick and lean, and 

 with every one a frog sticking so fast on the head 

 of the said Carps, that the frog would not be got 

 off without extreme force or killing." 



We find this account confirmed by many modern 

 instances, which are thus summed up by Smitt : 

 " Carp are often troubled by the male frogs, which 

 under the influence of sexual excitement attach 

 themselves firmly to the head of the sluggish Carp, 

 and with their forefeet press the eyes of the fish so 

 hard as to produce blindness." 



Carp are fairly good eating when well cooked, 

 but all the recipes seem to agree in recommending 

 the use of plenty of wine and other accessories 

 which disguise the muddy flavour of the fish. 

 They are easily kept in ponds, and are largely 

 cultivated on the Continent, but not much in this 

 country. 

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