116 FEESH-WATEE AQTJAEIA. 



Cyprinus carpio will live apparently quite contented where 

 any other fish — except perhaps a tench — would very likely 

 die. It seems to be almost indifferent to either heat or cold, 

 for it has been proved that it wiU survive being placed in 

 water heated to 109deg., or frozen up in a mass of solid ice. 

 The Common Carp will also live for several hours out of 

 water ; and fishermen sometimes tell us how that after a 

 long and successful day's Carp fishing, they have found their 

 spoil still alive on their return home. On the Continent 

 Carp are even fattened by being suspended in the air in a 

 net containing damp pioss, and in that position they are fed 

 upon bread and milk, put into their mouths with a wooden 

 spoon. At first, however, until they get accustomed to this 

 extraordinary treatment, the net, moss, and fish are oc- 

 casionally dipped in water. Carp are said to live 150 or even 

 200 years, but this is not proved. However, at any rate it 

 is certain that they are capable of attaining a great age. 

 Pontainebleau, in France, is among other things noted for its 

 very old Carp, some of them being described as " white with 

 age " ; but it is not unreasonable to suppose that this 

 whiteness is not so much an indication of great age as of 

 disease, for fish, especially the Carp, are subject to a 

 vegetable parasite {Saprolegnia ferox) which gives to its 

 victims a hoary appearance. This mould or fungus is chiefly 

 caused by the presence of decaying animal matter in the 

 pond or tank. The disease is contagious. Whenever, there- 

 fore, the least appearance of this growth is noticed, the 

 sufEering fish should be at once removed from its fellows and 

 be kept quite alone until a cure has been effected. The best 

 manner of accomplishing this end is to keep the fish in 

 running water, and this may be done in one of the following 

 ways: 



(1) Put the fish in a box having perforated sides and lid, 

 and sink it all but Sin. or 4in. in a running stream. (2) Or 

 place the patient in a shallow vessel covered with .wire netting 

 or the Hke, under a gently rimning tap. (3) Should no tap 

 be conveniently at hand, a contrivance may be made (out of 

 doors for preference) by the help of a siphon, a tub, and a 



