Letter: Rod, line and carp

Sir: Andrew Brown's claim that 'It was not until the Second World War that people learnt that they could catch carp with a rod and line' is wide of the mark.

Arthur Ransome's Rod and Line, written during the Twenties, prefigures the fishy exploits of Chris Yates. Ransome claimed to have shaken hands respectfully with the man who caught the biggest carp ever landed in England (less than half the present record) and told of one monster that got away which returned his float to his very feet as an invitation to try again.

Yours faithfully,

R. M. POWLEY

Manchester