按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
circumstances。 And as their breeding； so are their decays also very
mysterious： I have both read it； and been told by a gentleman of tried
honesty； that he has known sixty or more large Carps put into several
ponds near to a house； where by reason of the stakes in the ponds； and the
owner's constant being near to them； it was impossible they should be
stole away from him； and that when he has； after three or four years；
emptied the pond； and expected an increase from them by breeding young
ones； for that they might do so he had； as the rule is； put in three melters
for one spawner； he has； I say； after three or four years； found neither a
young nor old Carp remaining。 And the like I have known of one that had
almost watched the pond； and； at a like distance of time； at the fishing of a
pond； found； of seventy or eighty large Carps； not above five or six： and
that he had forborne longer to fish the said pond； but that he saw； in a hot
day in summer； a large Carp swim near the top of the water with a frog
103
… Page 104…
THE COMPLEAT ANGLER
upon his head； and that he； upon that occasion； caused his pond to be let
dry： and I say； of seventy or eighty Carps； only found five or six in the said
pond； and those very sick and lean； and with every one a frog sticking so
fast on the head of the said Carps； that the frog would not be got off
without extreme force or killing。 And the gentleman that did affirm this to
me； told me he saw it； and did declare his belief to be； and I also believe
the same； that he thought the other Carps； that were so strangely lost； were
so killed by the frogs； and then devoured。
And a person of honour； now living in Worcestershire； assured me he
had seen a necklace； or collar of tadpoles； hang like a chain or necklace of
beads about a Pike's neck； and to kill him： Whether it were for meat or
malice； must be； to me； a question。
But I am fallen into this discourse by accident； of which I might say
more； but it has proved longer than I intended； and possibly may not to
you be considerable： I shall therefore give you three or four more short
observations of the Carp； and then fall upon some directions how you shall
fish for him。
The age of Carps is by Sir Francis Bacon； in his History of Life and
Death； observed to be but ten years； yet others think they live longer。
Gesner says； a Carp has been known to live in the Palatine above a
hundred years But most conclude； that； contrary to the Pike or Luce； all
Carps are the better for age and bigness。 The tongues of Carps are noted to
be choice and costly meat； especially to them that buy them： but Gesner
says； Carps have no tongue like other fish； but a piece of fleshlike fish in
their mouth like to a tongue； and should be called a palate： but it is certain
it is choicely good； and that the Carp is to be reckoned amongst those
leather…mouthed fish which； I told you； have their teeth in their throat； and
for that reason he is very seldom lost by breaking his hold； if your hook be
once stuck into his chaps。
I told you that Sir Francis Bacon thinks that the Carp lives but ten
years： but Janus Dubravius has writ a book Of fish and fish…ponds in
which he says； that Carps begin to spawn at the age of three years； and
continue to do so till thirty： he says also； that in the time of their breeding；
which is in summer； when the sun hath warmed both the earth and water；
104
… Page 105…
THE COMPLEAT ANGLER
and so apted them also for generation； that then three or four male Carps
will follow a female； and that then； she putting on a seeming coyness； they
force her through weeds and flags； where she lets fall her eggs or spawn；
which sticks fast to the weeds； and then they let fall their melt upon it； and
so it becomes in a short time to be a living fish： and； as I told you； it is
thought that the Carp does this several months in the year； and most
believe； that most fish breed after this manner； except the Eel。 And it has
been observed； that when the spawner has weakened herself by doing that
natural office； that two or three melters have helped her from off the
weeds； by bearing her up on both sides； and guarding her into the deep。
And you may note； that though this may seem a curiosity not worth
observing； yet others have judged it worth their time and costs to make
glass hives； and order them in such a manner as to see how bees have bred
and made their honeycombs； and how they have obeyed their king； and
governed their commonwealth。 But it is thought that all Carps are not bred
by generation； but that some breed other ways； as some Pikes do。
The physicians make the galls and stones in the heads of Carps to be
very medicinable。 But it is not to be doubted but that in Italy they make
great profit of the spawn of Carps； by selling it to the Jews； who make it
into red caviare； the Jews not being by their law admitted to eat of caviare
made of the Sturgeon； that being a fish that wants scales； and； as may
appear in Leviticus xi。； by them reputed to be unclean。
Much more might be said out of him； and out of Aristotle； which
Dubravius often quotes in his Discourse of Fishes： but it might rather
perplex than satisfy you； and therefore I shall rather choose to direct you
how to catch； than spend more time in discoursing either of the nature or
the breeding of this Carp； or of any more circumstances concerning him。
But yet I shall remember you of what I told you before； that he is a very
subtil fish； and hard to be caught
And my first direction is； that if you will fish for a Carp； you must put
on a very large measure of patience； especially to fish for a river Carp： I
have known a very good fisher angle diligently four or six hours in a day；
for three or four days together； for a river Carp； and not have a bite。 And
you are to note； that； in some ponds； it is as hard to catch a Carp as in a
105
… Page 106…
THE COMPLEAT ANGLER
river； that is to say； where they have store of feed； and the water is of a
clayish colour。 But you are to remember that I have told you