LAKE BREAM. 37 



to a spot where they are to be fished for, and where they seize 

 the worms with which the hooks are baited. Izaak WaUon 

 gives directions for the successful practice of fishing for these 

 Bream, for information concerning which we refer to the well- 

 known and amusing volume of this patriarch of fishermen. 

 They are not found in Cornwall or Devonshire. Fleming 

 mentions it indefinitely, as being found in Scotland; and he 

 qviotes Pennant as authority for its inhabiting Loch Maben; 

 but it seems not to be an inhabitant of the far north of that 

 kingdom. 



Leland also says in his own quaint language that in Wales, 

 not far from Breckenok, in Llin Senatham; which is in bredth 

 a mile, and a two miles of length, and wher as it is depest a " 

 thirteen fadom, it berith as the principale fisch a great numbre 

 of Bremes, and they appere in May in mighti seniles. So that 

 sumtime they breke large nettes; and ons frayed appereth not 

 in the bryme of the water that yere againe. 



By favour of the Earl of Enniskillen I learn that large 

 numbers inhabit the lakes of the north of Ireland; and especially 

 they abound in Lough Erne, Lough Mackean, and others in 

 Fermanagh, Cavan, and other counties; and I have been indebted 

 to that Noble Lord for several examples from these districts, 

 from which we have derived our figure and description. A 

 net is the instrument chiefly had recourse to in that part of 

 the coiintry; and as these fish are not generally in high esteem, 

 (and, in fact, from their numbers, when the hope is to take 

 other fishes, they are usually considered an annoyance,) they 

 for the most part fall to the lot of the poorer people, who 

 preserve them for use in winter. 



Yet although this is the character which the Bream now 

 generally bears it was not always so. Chaucer speaks favourably 

 of it, and the value set on this fish about the year 1419 may 

 be learned from Sir William Dugdale, who informs us that at 

 that date a single fish was valued at twenty pence, when the 

 day's labour of a mason or master carpenter was less than 

 sixpence; from which was withdrawn three halfpence if his food 

 was supplied to him. We are told also that a pie containing 

 four Bream was sent from Warwickshire to a distant part of 

 Yorkshire at the cost of sixteen shillings; which amount included 

 the wages of two men for three days in catching the fish. 



