CARP, DACE AND MINNOW. 415 
and arrange the distance between the float and the shot, so that the latter 
may exactly rest on the bottom, weighing down the point of the float to 
about ‘ half-cock,’ and letting the gut below the shot and the bait lie on 
ground. Fix the rod in the bank and keep perfectly quiet. When a bite 
is perceived, do not strike until the float begins to move away. 
“Tt constantly happens, however, that the Carp will not be taken either 
by this or any other mode of fishing with which I am acquainted ; but if 
he is to be caught at all it is thus. 
‘The baits are, worms (first), gentles, greaves, grains and yarious sorts 
of pastes, of which latter, however, I believe, the plain white bread crumb 
paste is the best, as well as the most easily made. Prof. Owen, who had 
a good deal of Carp fishing experience in Virginia water, gave me the 
results of his practice which concur in a great measure with my own, 
except that he fished with his bait paste made of soft herring roe worked 
up with bread crumbs and wool, a favorable substitute sometimes for the 
brandling.’’ 
In Germany the Carp season is in July, August and September. The 
angler usually prepares for his sport by ‘‘ ground-baiting’’ with a thou- | 
sand or more angle-worms, twenty-four hours before he expects to fish, and 
while fishing he throws worms into the water. He uses Nottingham 
tackle, and baits his hook with the tail of an angle worm, or with grains 
of barley or wheat, a maggot or a wasp-larva, or with balls of dough. The 
bait rests on the ground, and the fish is allowed to rise toward the surface 
before striking. The young Carp of two pounds or less bite the best. 
THE KING CARP OR MIRROR CARP. 
The natural result of so many centuries of pond culture has been a 
differentiation of varieties as well marked as those among poultry or 
domestic animals. The most important of these for the fish culturist are 
