THE CARPS 93 
fish, and then to write a few words on his early life 
history. 
I have fished for salmon on the rushing Spey and 
in Highland lochs, for sea-trout in Ireland and in the 
Hebrides, for brown trout in various waters, from a 
peaty burn on a wild Scotch moor to a crystal stream 
amongst Swiss mountains, and I can say, without fear 
of contradiction, that there is no fish that will put up 
a better fight than a big carp. 
Some years ago I had an opportunity of fishing in a 
pond, which by report held some monster carp; not a 
fish under ten pounds and most of them twenties and 
thirties ! 
All arrangements had been made for days before, 
when a friend and I started out at three a.m. on a damp 
September morning, full of hope. The water was seven 
miles off, and when we were about two miles from our 
destination, we simultaneously remembered that the 
other had forgotten the paste. Of boiled potatoes, 
lob worms, brandlings, cheese, we had plenty, but 
what was the good of going carp fishing without 
paste ? 
Fortunately, we passed a farm-house and saw a 
light burning, and blessed the people for being such 
early risers. We found, however, that the previous day 
had been the farmer’s birthday, and he and a few friends 
were celebrating the occasion, and had not yet gone 
to bed. We struek the farmer in a most affable mood, 
and made paste flavoured both with honey and cheese. 
