CARP AND TENCH. 



283 



belonged to the well-known naturalist, Mr. Edward Jesse, and 

 Mr. Yarrell observed ' that he could find no record of any carp 

 so large having been before taken in this country.' 



A brace weighing 38 lbs. was sent by Mr. Ladbroke, from 

 his park at Gatton, Surrey, to Lord Egremont, as challenge- 

 specimens to compare with the carp of Sussex. A carp is 

 mentioned as having been taken from a piece of water at 

 Stourhead in 1793, which was 30 inches long, upwards of 

 22 inches in girth, and weighed 18 lbs. At Weston Hall, Staf- 

 fordshire, the seat of the Earl of Bradford, is preserved the paint- 

 ing of another which weighed 19 j lbs.; and in the large lake in 

 Wimbledon Park, I took on one occasion with a landing-net, a 

 specimen weighing upwards of 19 lbs. These are a few large 

 fish that happen to have been chronicled from English waters ; 

 but I am convinced that many much larger ones have been 

 taken. 



Comjiarattve Lengths and Weights of Carp. 



The growth rate of carp has been approximately computed 

 at 3 lbs. during the first six years, and 6 lbs. before the tenth 

 year. They grow much faster, however, in warm climates, and 

 also probably in stews when well fed. The following is recom- 

 imended as a recipe for fattening them : — ' Barley meal, half a 

 gallon ; chalk, in powder, i| lbs. (very clean) ; clay, a sufficient 

 quantity to make a stiff paste. Place this in the stew or pond, 



