23 JANUARY 1982, Page 16

Fresh news

Sir: I was saddened to read in your Notebook (9 January) of the death, due to neglect, of Mr James Prior's carp; Or neglect it was. l live in Japan and the Japanese cover their fish ponds with thick black plastic during the winter (in cold less vicious than Britain's present deep freeze)' and the carp stay under the shelter in what appears an almost comatose position, without being fed, for the duration of the severe cold. Mr Prior might like to know this, in case he buys any more carp.

Ann Hartigan

3-8 Teppo-Cho, Hiroshima, Japan