THE CARP. 



This fish, when it grows to a large size, is one of 

 the most difficult, if not the most difficult to capture ; 

 that is, in waters that are much fished or disturbed. 

 For caution in feeding, the carp has no equal ; he 

 sucks and nibbles most guardedly at any bait before 

 swallowing it, while the sight of anything sus- 

 picious in the way of tackle or angler will com- 

 pletely deter him from feeding at all. Although 

 generally very sluggish in his movements, he gives 

 fine sport when hooked, being tremendously strong, 

 and fighting till the very last, exerting all his 

 strength and ingenuity to gain the shelter of the 

 thickest weed-beds or other cover into which he 

 can plunge. In consequence of this, it is useless to 

 employ very fine tackle when fishing for carp in 

 water that is encumbered with weed and water- 

 lilies, the thick stems of the latter being terrible 

 tackle-breakers. 



Carp live to a very great, age, and the older 

 they are the shyer they get. In shallow size and 

 ponds their caution is excessive, the largest habits 

 fish hardly ever moving from the centre, or deepest 

 water, in the day time, but coming quietly to the 

 sides to feed in the late dusk of the evening, and 



