40 THE ANGLER S GUIDE. 



and thrive wonderfully, in new-made pits, from whence 

 gni vel has been dug, or in ponds with gravelly sides or 

 bottom, but seldom growheavier than one pound. These 

 Carp will live a long time in a glass bowl, or globe, and 

 look very beautiful, many of them having double tails : 

 frequently change the water, which must be river or 

 pond water, for they soon die if put in hard spring 

 water. 



Loach, or Stone Loach. 



This is a very small Fish, having around dark body, 

 ct;vered with very small scales, with six wattles or barbs 

 .li its mouth, and several teeth in its jaws : it seldom 

 exceeds four or five inches in length, and, in colour? 

 mouth, head, and fins, somewhat resembles the Gud- 

 geon, I have heard they are a delicious Fish when 

 fried in batter, or with egg and crumbs of bread ; but 

 there is somedifiiculty in catching a dish of them, being 

 scarce as well as small. The Stone Loach is an excel- 

 lent, indeed a most killing bait for large Eels, when 

 used on night-lines ; they are generally to be found in 

 small gravelly brooks and rivulets. — I have sometimes 

 taken a few in the river Lea, in the shallows, near mill- 

 tails : they lie at the bottom, routing the gravel, the 

 same as Barbel. You may take them with the tail' 

 end of a red worm, and a small hook, during the warm 

 weather, with or without a float to your line, using a 

 shot or two to sink the bait.^ — Note, the Stone Loach is 

 : killing bait for large Perch, if used alive, and, when 

 dead, it is also a good bait for Eels on night-lines. 



