SOME OF THE MORE UNCOMMON FISHES 387 



Gudgeon 



Have grown rare in the districts best known to me, though 

 in some places they used to be common enough. Their 

 delight is to bask in a sandy shallow on a hot summer's 



Miller's Thumbs 



Occur, but are not common. They get them in the smelt 

 nets at the locks. 



The Ruffe, 



Or " pout," as the Broadsmen familiarly call him, is common 

 in some of the shoals, and in some of the broads. Anglers 

 do not like him, for they say, " When he come you may as 

 well pull up and go," and they do. Yet he is good eating, 

 though small, eight inches being the longest " pout " I have 

 seen. Pouts will take a worm on a small hook. They 

 prefer a stream and a hard, clear bottom, and, as the Broads- 

 men say, " they make a face at you when you catch them." 



Sea-Lamperns 



Work up some of the rivers in the autumn, six or seven 

 weeks before Christmas. There are a couple of good 

 specimens caught at Geldeston Lock, now in the keeper's 

 possession ; they weighed two pounds and a quarter each 

 in the flesh. 



"Lampers." 



The fresh-water lamprey can be seen in spring hanging to 

 the stones in the same locality. They are sometimes caught 

 in the eel-nets, and especially in snowy water. They have 

 been found with spawn in them on the Waveney. 



