F¥ecun- 
dity. 
302 GAL OR Pe. Clafs IV. 
An experiment has been made by placing a carp in 
a net, well wrapped up in wet mofs, the mouth only 
remaining out, and then hung up in a cellar, or fome 
cool place: the fifh is frequently fed with white 
bread and milk, and is befides often plunged into 
water. Carp thus managed have been known, not 
only to have lived above a fortnight, but to grow 
exceedingly fat, and far fuperior in tafte to thofe ' 
that are immediately killed from the pond*. 
The carp is a prodigious breeder: its quantity 
of roe has been fometimes found fo great, that when 
taken out and weiched againit the fifh itfelf, the for- 
mer has been found to preponderate. We have for- 
bore in this work to enter into minute calculations 
of the numbers each fifh may produce. It has al- 
ready been moft fkilfully performed by Mr. Harmer, 
and printed in the Philcfophical Tranfaétions of the 
year 1767. We fhall, in our Appendix, take the 
liberty of borrowing fuch part of his tables of the 
foecundity of fifh, as will demonftrate the kind at- 
tention of Providence, towards the preferving fo— 
ufeful a clafs of animals for the fervice of its other 
creatures. | 
Thefe fith are extremely cunning, and on that ac- 
count are by fome ftyled the river fox. They will 
fometimes leap over the nets, and efcape that way ; 
at others, will immerfe themfelves fo deep in the 
mud, as to let the net pafs over them. They are 
* This was told me by a gentleman cf the utmoft veracity, 
who had twice made the experiment. The fame fact is related 
by that pious Philofopher Doctor Derkam, in his Phyfico-T heclog y, 
edit. oth. 1737. ch. te pr 7. te be 
alfo 
