338 
NOTES TO THE 
the lower end of the tail of a calf, skin it open, and insert a 
cork perforated with a bit of gimp ; on the end of the gimp 
must be attached the ordinary double hooks, which should be 
properly concealed by the hair on the skin ; put a thick boot-lace 
for a tail, and a cork with two boot buttons for the head. The 
big pike sees this, thinks it a water-rat, and most likely will 
come and take it. 
Carp, p. 22. — Mr. Charles, fishmonger, of Arabella Eow, 
in 1866, sent me two very fine carp. The largest weighed 21^ lbs., 
was 33 inches long, and 20^ inches in girth. The smaller fish 
weighed 16 Jibs,, being 25 inches in length, and 23 inches in 
girth. They came from Haarlem Meer, in Holland, and were 
both females. 
I had the opportunity of casting the larger fish, and I also 
carefully counted her roe which weighed 3Jlbs. This was done 
by taking the average of two or three grains, a calculation was 
then made of the aggregate number of eggs. These amounted 
to no less than one million three hundred and ten thousand 
seven liundred and fifty (1,310,750) in this one fish, nearly 
equal to half the population of London. I also weighed the 
eggs of the smaller carp, they weighed 5Jlbs., giving their to- 
tal number, two millions and fifty-nine thousand seven hundred 
and fifty-nine (2,059,759). I can guarantee the accuracy of 
the weighing, and also the calculations, which were made for 
me by Mr. Thomas, a professional accountant. 
American Water Weed. — Since White's time the American 
Water Weed has appeared. It has done an immense amount of 
mischief by filling up our rivers, canals, lakes, .&c. BaMng- 
tonia damnahilis — or, as it is usually called, B. diaholica — 
is a Cambridge name, invented by Mr. Charles Kingsey, for 
this American water- weed, the proper scientific name of w^hich 
is Anacharis Alsinastrum, or Elodea Canadensis. The first 
name was given at the expense of the Professor of Botany 
at Cambridge, probably under the impression that he had to do 
with the introduction of the weed into this country, inasmuch as 
it has been said to have seeded from a piece originally brought 
to Cambridge by Mr. Babington ; but it is generally supposed to 
owe its introduction to the American timber which is fioated 
down the American rivers and then brought up our own, bringing 
with it pieces of the weeds. ]t was first seen here about 1842, 
and no doubt came from North America ; how, is not known. 
It never perfects seeds in England ; the sexes are no different 
plants, and only the female grows in England in enforced celibacy. 
