192 NOTES ON FISH AND FISHING. 



fish, was found a suspended medal with the following an- 

 nouncement in Greek : — " I am the first fish that was put 

 into this pond by the hands of the Governor of the Uni- 

 verse, Frederic the Second, on this 5th day of October, 

 1282." In the two centuries and a half during which he 

 had witnessed and survived so many social and political 

 changes, he had " laid on" 350 lbs., and he measured 19 ft. 

 If he had decreased in weight during his declining years 

 according to the calculations given just above, what must 

 he have once weighed in the " bloom of youth and beauty ! " 

 Even taking him at his weight on his demise — 



" A fish like this, one single foot to raise, 

 Would take twelve men of these degenerate days ; 

 A trace of heroes from the Trojan war 

 United scarce might lift it on the car." 



His skeleton is, or is said to be, still in the Manheim 

 Museum ; but those who have seen it say that it has evi- 

 dently been tampered with. Fortunately for angling heroes 

 of the present day, no such fish tenant British waters, 

 otherwise it would be necessary to bait with a whole sheep, 

 a swan, or a living porker, and play your fish on a sort of 

 Trotman J s anchor by the aid of a chain cable and movable 

 crane, as we should the Silurus glanis (one of the Esocidce 

 family), if, as was suggested a few years ago, he were 

 acclimatized in our lakes and rivers. 



In the Thames jack do not run very large, and it is only 

 occasionally that one over 20 lbs. is taken. The Henley 

 and Marlow districts occasionally produce a jack between 

 201bs. and 301bs. In Norfolk grand fish are often taken 

 of 30 lbs. and more ; and in Scotch, and particularly in 

 Irish waters, of a still greater weight, fish between 40 lbs. 



