ii8 ANGLING 



in the fosse of Portchartrain, whicli were one h.undred. 

 and fifty years old, and still possessed all the vivacity 

 and agility of ordinary fish. Others are spoken of by 

 some authors, which had attained the age of two 

 hundred years. 



We must, however, take all these stories about the 

 ages of fish cum grano salis. It is extremely difficult 

 to obtain correct information on such a subject, especially 

 as the evidence, from the nature of the case, must 

 necessarily be of a very loose and inadequate description. 

 The weight of fish is a more tangible affair, and on 

 this point we cannot be very far deceived, if proper 

 precautions be adopted. Carp, if only half the state- 

 ments on record be true, will undoubtedly reach a very 

 large size, especially in the north of Europe, where 

 they seem to be highly prized, and very carefully 

 protected. Pallas says that the Volga produces carp 

 five feet in length. "In 1711," says Eleazar Bloch, ia 

 his splendid work, " a carp was caught near Frankfort, 

 on the Oder, which was more than niue feet long, and 

 three round, and which weighed seventy pounds." In 

 the Lake of Zug, in Switzerland, one was taken which 

 weighed ninety pounds. Monsieur Pesson-Maisonneuve 

 seems to think their size varies according to the places 

 they inhabit, and the food they live upon. "In 

 France," says he, "they reach ten or twelve pounds; 

 in Germany, they become monstrous. They are taken 

 in Pomerania, thirty or forty pounds in weight ; and in 

 Prussia, fifty pounds is a common size ! " For our own 

 part, we should like to see one of these extraordinary 

 fish, but much fear we shall not be so fortunate. 



The carp spawn in May, and even in April, when the 

 spring is forward and warm. They seek out quiet 

 places covered with verdure, in which to deposit their 

 eggs ; and it is said that two or three males follow each 

 female, in order to swim over and impregnate the 

 deposit. At this season, carp which inhabit rivers and 

 running streams endeavour to get into more tranquil 

 waters ; and if, during their migration, they meet with 

 unexpected obstacles, they are very resolute and deter- 



