THE TExXCH. f) I 



ways use my tiowl, that in case a pike should 

 take it, l may be prepared for him. Keep your 

 minnows in a tin kettle, and when you bait with 

 one, stick the hook through his upper lip or back 

 fin. If you use the frog, stick it through the 

 skin of [lis hind leg. I'hese directions being care- 

 fully attended to, 1 dare insure the angler success. 

 The percA is much esteemed in Italy, especially 

 when small: Ge^wer prefers the perch -dnd pike 

 before the trout, or any fresh fish. The Ger- 

 mans say proverbially, more wholesome than a 

 perch of the Rhine ! 



TINCA, 



The Tench ; (tlie fi.she's physician) so called 

 because its slime is said to be very healin^'- to 

 wounded fishes ; and what is more strange, the 

 voracious pike is so sensil)le of his sovereign vir- 

 tue, that he will not hurt a tench, although he 

 will seize any other fish of his own size that come* 

 in his way ; and when he or any other fishes are sick, 

 they find relief by rubbing tlieiuselves against 

 his body. He is a delicious fresh water fish'; has 

 small scales, yet very large and smooth fins, a red 

 circle about tlie eyes, and a little barb hangin'r 

 at each corner of his mouth. His haunts are 

 chiefly in ponds amongst weeds ; he thiives very 

 ill in clear waters, and covets to feed in foul ones"; 

 yet hisfiesh is nourishing and pleasant. 



The Tench is esteemed, as most delicate food 

 among us; but the (iermans dislike it much, 

 and by way of contempt, call it shoemaker. Ges- 

 ner even says, that it is insipid and unwholesome. 

 It does not commonly exceed four oriivt- pounds 

 in weight; but they have been met villi oi a 

 mucli Iciri^er size. 



w 



