THE TENCH. . 87 



Remarks on Tench. 



The Tench has a few teeth iii his jaws, and is of 

 the Carp species, but not a very handsome Fish in 

 shape, being short and thick, and when of a large 

 size nearly as broad as they are long ; their fins and 

 tail are large and of a purple violet colour ; their 

 scales are very small and close, and of a greenish 

 gold colour, and the whole body is covered with a 

 balsamic quality, healing the wounded and sick of all 

 the finny race ; for which purpose, writers say, the 

 sick and wounded rub themselves against the Tench, 

 and receive a cure : this is the general and received 

 opinion, and, in consequence, the Tench is honoured 

 with the name of the Physician, and it is said 

 they are respected even by the all-devouring Pike. 



Whether the forbearance of the Pike arises from 

 respect to the healing qualities of the Tench, or is 

 to be attributed to a dislike of the slimy matter on 

 its body, I know not, but I believe the Tench is per- 

 fectly free from the persecution of Jack and Pike ', 

 for I have never taken one that has been at all muti- 

 lated in its fins, tail, or any other part, or with any of 

 those wounds or scars on the body, which are so 

 frequently met with by the x4ngler, among the small 

 Fish he takes. The Eel also forgoes his voracity, in 

 regard to the Tench, both by night and day. I 

 have known several trimmers to be laid at night, 

 baited with live Fish, Roach, Dace, Bleak, and Tench, 

 each about six or seven inches long 5 and when those 



