452 



THE TENGH — GUDGEON — CHUB. 



College, Cambridge, contained a Carp tliat had been an inhabitant of 

 it more than seventy years; and Gesner has mentioned an instance 

 of one that was an Imndred years old. They are also extn^mely tena- 

 cious of lif3, and will live for a great length of time out of water. 



THE TENCH. 



Tench are partial to foul and weedy waters ; and their haunts in 



rivers are chiefly among weeds, 

 and in places well shaded with 

 rushes. These fish thrive best 

 in standing waters, where they 

 lie under weeds, near sluices 

 and pond-heads. They are 

 TEKCH. much more numerous in pools 



and pits than in rivers ; but 

 those that are caught in the latter, are far preferable for the table. 

 They begin to spawn in June, and may be found spawning in some 

 waters till September. The best season for them is from that time 

 until the end of May, 



They do not often exceed four or five pounds in weight. 



THE GUDGEON. 



The food of the Gudgeon consists of aquatic plants, worms, the 

 larvae of water-insects, and the spawn of 

 fish. They usually swim in small shoals, 

 and are found in gentle streams, where _ 

 the bed is of sand or graveh If the bed ^ 

 of the stream be raked or stirred up, 

 they eagerly collect round the spot, and 

 are easily caught with lines baited with gudgeon. 



small earth-worms. 



The flesh of the Gudgeon is white, of excellent flavor, and easy of 

 digestion. 



THE CHUB. 



The Chub is a handsome fish ; but it is not in esteem for the table, 



being very coarse, and, when out of 



season full of small, hairy bones. 



Its name is derived from the shape 



of its head ; the French and Italiana 



know it by a name synonymous 



*'^"- with ours. 



Its haunts are rivers, whose bottoms are o^ sand or clay, or which 



are bounded by clayey banks ; in deep holes, under hollow banks, 



