256 NOTES ON FISH AND FISHING. 



to acknowledge this un-angler-like proceeding), and then 



it was a case of " Pull , pull baker/' between us, the 



result often being in favour of the carp, the tackle break- 

 ing in the lilies. I used to let my line rest, too, on the 

 lily-leaves, with the bait only a few inches under water, 

 and it was frequently taken by a fish as he was threading 

 his way among the lily-stalks. Here, again, the water 

 was scarcely ever fished, and so the carp were very un- 

 suspicious. 



But it is almost impossible to exaggerate the difficulty 

 of taking large carp and tench, particularly the former, in 

 rivers and in still waters, especially in those where they are 

 often fished for. Indeed, I have come to the conclusion that 

 it is hardly worth while to try exclusively for these fish in 

 rivers — the Thames, for example. They are taken oc- 

 casionally when the angler is fishing for other kinds of 

 fish, either with the leger, or in the Nottingham style ; 

 and a good Cyprio or Tinea is a most welcome addition 

 to the basket. 



A big carp is undoubtedly the most shy and suspicious 

 fish that swims in our waters. It has been well said, — 



" Of all the fish that swim the watery mead, 

 Not one in cunning can the carp exceed." 



Ichthyologically it might be expected that the carp would 

 be a wily and crafty fish. Look at his brain. The average 

 proportionate weight of the brains of fish to their bodies is as 

 1 in 3000. The stupid thunny only marks 1 for his brain in 

 3700 ; the fairly-astute pike, 1 in 1300 ; but the carp's brains 

 weigh 1 in 500, which is exactly the proportion between 

 brains and body shown by that clever beast, the elephant. 

 Moreover, the organs of hearing, seeing, tasting, and smell- 



