Now as the increase of _Carps_ is wonderful for their number; so there is not a reason found out, I think, by any, why the should breed in some Ponds, and not in others of the same nature, for soil and all other circumstances; and as their breeding, so are their decayes also very mysterious; I have both read it, and been told by a Gentleman of tryed honestie, that he has knowne sixtie or more large _Carps_ put into several Ponds neer to a house, where by reason of the stakes in the Ponds, and the Owners constant being neer 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 has almost watched his 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 forborn longer to fish the said Pond, but that he saw in a hot day in Summer, a large _Carp_ swim neer to the top of the water with a _Frog_ upon his head, and that he upon that occasion caused his Pond to be let dry: and I say, of seventie 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 bee got off without extreme force or killing, and the Gentleman that did affirm this to 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 _Frogs_, and then devoured. But I am faln into this discourse by accident, of which I might say more, but it has proved longer then 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 S. _Francis Bacon_ (in his History of Life and Death) observed to be but ten years; yet others think they live longer: 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_ sayes, _Carps_ have no tongues like other fish, but a piece of flesh-like-fish in their mouth like to a tongue, and may be so called, 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 seldome lost by breaking his hold, if your hook bee once stuck into his chaps.