THE CARP. 289 



hundred pounds weight ; while thofe of the "Dneijler fome- 

 timcs arrive at the enormous length of five feet *. 



Of all the finny tribe, the carp is mod tenacious of life: 

 when placed in a net wrapped in wet mofs, and hung in 

 damp cellars, it will fubfift for a fortnight f . This fact is 

 fo well attefted by cxperiroent, that a method of fatten- 

 ing this filh has been adopted, wliich is founded upon it. 

 The net is from time to time dij^ped in water, and the 

 fifli crammed with wheat -bread foaked in milk; anJ. by 

 this management, it becomes in a fliort time not only 

 much fatter, but of a far fuperior flavour to thofe led in 

 the pond J. 



The fifties of this fpecies being in fome mealure do- 

 meflicated, their manners and economy have been more 

 narrowly examined than rnoft. of the other tenants of the 

 water ; and the afcertaining their fecundity has been the 

 refult of thefe obfervations : The carp is prodigiouflj 

 prolific ; its bell j being almoft at all feafons diilended 

 with a roe, which fometimes increafes before parturition,, 

 to the full fize of the filli who carries it ; and when 

 weighed oppofite to it, has often been known to prepon- 

 derate. Upwards of two hundred thoufand ova have 

 been numbered in one roe |f ; and, if we may credit Arif~ 

 totle, this immenfe offspring is produced five or fix times 

 every year §. Such is the kind attention bellowed by 

 nature in preferving this ufeful clafa of animals, for the 

 fupport of other portions of her innumerable family I 



The carp, like mod ether fpecies, frequent the lliallow 

 water at the feafon of fpaw^iing ; when a dozen of males 



Vol. III. O o are 



* Jovlus dc pifc. Rom. 131. f Hift. Nat. Ppl. I45. , 



X Dcrhams Phyfo. Theol. lid. 9. p. 7, jj Phil. Tranfat^. 1767, 



§ HilL iVninial 



