Benson (fish)
Encyclopedia
Benson was "Britain's biggest and best-loved" common carp
. Benson's popularity was such that she was caught 63 times in 13 years, although the accessibility that made her popular was also the cause of controversy among angling
's elite. She has also been referred to as "the people's fish" and was voted by readers of Angler's Mail
as Britain's Favourite Carp in 2005.
The fish, who was female, was originally one of a pair: her original companion, Hedges, disappeared in a flood of the River Nene
in 1998. Both fish were named due to a hole in Benson's dorsal fin
that resembled a cigarette burn, in a reference to Benson and Hedges. At her peak weight, in 2006, she weighed 64 pounds and 2 ounces.
Benson died in July 2009, aged 25. At the time of her death, she weighed the same as a large dog and was worth £
20,000.
The owner of the lake where she lived alleged that she was accidentally poisoned by anglers using uncooked tigernuts as bait. Another possible cause of death was the complications during egg production.
complex, at Tansor
just outside Oundle
in Cambridgeshire
, where she was one of approximately 150 carp; the lakes are managed "to provide the best environment for growth potential of the fish". Steve Broad
, editor of UK Carp magazine, ascribed Benson's fame to "her accessibility":
However, this very accessibility made the fish controversial among the sport's elite: "Everyday anglers loved her because there was a chance they could have their photo taken with one of the big fish ... some serious anglers did not like her because she was open to everyone."
Benson's record of being caught so often masks her unpredictability. "There was a period when Benson was caught every Monday for six weeks. Then it seemed that she disappeared for the next 12 months."
Benson's successor as a popular and very large common carp may not live too far away from the fish's former haunt. "The same complex where Benson lived boasts a lot of promising 40lb fish. There’s one — the Z-Fish — that is ounces under 50lb and still growing."
It has since been confirmed that the most likely cause of death was not nut poisoning, but rather reproductive complications due to gravidity
.
Common carp
The Common carp is a widespread freshwater fish of eutrophic waters in lakes and large rivers in Europe and Asia. The wild populations are considered vulnerable to extinction, but the species has also been domesticated and introduced into environments worldwide, and is often considered an invasive...
. Benson's popularity was such that she was caught 63 times in 13 years, although the accessibility that made her popular was also the cause of controversy among angling
Angling
Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" . The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself...
's elite. She has also been referred to as "the people's fish" and was voted by readers of Angler's Mail
Angler's Mail
Angler's Mail is a weekly angling magazine published in London, UK, by IPC Media. The magazine covers aspects of modern coarse fishing, and is on sale every Tuesday priced £1.80....
as Britain's Favourite Carp in 2005.
The fish, who was female, was originally one of a pair: her original companion, Hedges, disappeared in a flood of the River Nene
River Nene
The River Nene is a river in the east of England that rises from three sources in the county of Northamptonshire. The tidal river forms the border between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk for about . It is the tenth longest river in the United Kingdom, and is navigable for from Northampton to The...
in 1998. Both fish were named due to a hole in Benson's dorsal fin
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
that resembled a cigarette burn, in a reference to Benson and Hedges. At her peak weight, in 2006, she weighed 64 pounds and 2 ounces.
Benson died in July 2009, aged 25. At the time of her death, she weighed the same as a large dog and was worth £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
20,000.
The owner of the lake where she lived alleged that she was accidentally poisoned by anglers using uncooked tigernuts as bait. Another possible cause of death was the complications during egg production.
Fame
Living in the Kingfisher Lake at the Bluebell LakesBluebell Lakes
Bluebell Lakes are 5 fishing lakes in Tansor near Peterborough. The 5 lakes are Kingfisher, Swan, Bluebell, Sandmartin and Mallard. They have Carp up to 64 lb, Tench to 14 lb, Catfish to 90 lb+, Pike to 41 lb, Bream to 18 lb, Perch to 4 lb, Roach to 2 lb and...
complex, at Tansor
Tansor
Tansor is a village and civil parish in the English county of Northamptonshire. Lying near the River Nene, three miles north-east of the town of Oundle, Tansor forms part of the district of East Northamptonshire. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was 185 people...
just outside Oundle
Oundle
Oundle is an ancient market town on the River Nene in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 5,345 or 5,674 . It lies some north of London and south-west of Peterborough...
in Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, where she was one of approximately 150 carp; the lakes are managed "to provide the best environment for growth potential of the fish". Steve Broad
Steve Broad
Steve Broad is the editor of UK Carp magazine. He also writes for The Times on angling issues.-References:...
, editor of UK Carp magazine, ascribed Benson's fame to "her accessibility":
Among keen anglers there are about only 20 carp that can be seriously called “household names”. Benson was near the top of that league. The thing that made Benson famous was her accessibility. Unlike other big carp, she was a day-ticket fish — anyone could go along and try to catch her.
However, this very accessibility made the fish controversial among the sport's elite: "Everyday anglers loved her because there was a chance they could have their photo taken with one of the big fish ... some serious anglers did not like her because she was open to everyone."
Benson's record of being caught so often masks her unpredictability. "There was a period when Benson was caught every Monday for six weeks. Then it seemed that she disappeared for the next 12 months."
Death
The Daily Telegraph reported that the fish had been "poisoned":A quantity of uncooked nuts, which are toxic to fish who swell up because they cannot process them, were found nearby on the bank. Owner of Bluebell Lakes Tony Bridgefoot, 53, said he feared the fish had been killed by "irresponsible anglers" ... "It seems her demise was caused by the introduction of foods that are harmful to fish."
Benson's successor as a popular and very large common carp may not live too far away from the fish's former haunt. "The same complex where Benson lived boasts a lot of promising 40lb fish. There’s one — the Z-Fish — that is ounces under 50lb and still growing."
It has since been confirmed that the most likely cause of death was not nut poisoning, but rather reproductive complications due to gravidity
Gravidity
In medicine, gravidity refers to the number of times a woman has been pregnant, regardless of whether the pregnancies were interrupted or resulted in a live birth....
.