116 THE ANGLER S GUIDE. 



large, are much like a pair of bellows in shape ; the 

 head and mouth are small, with a large eye, and 

 forked tail, which is of a dull purple colour, as also 

 the fins ; they will breed in still waters as well as in 

 rivers, if the bottom be clay, or loamy, as they prefer 

 still or sluggish streams to large or rapid rivers : 

 they spawn in May, and will grow to the weight of 

 six pounds. Bream love such places as the Carp and 

 Tench do in rivers ; they will also take the same 

 baits, and, like the Carp, struggle hard, particularly 

 when they first feel the hook ; therefore, give line 

 freely, before you attempt to turn him, if a he9,vy 

 Fishj for, like heavy Barbel, they are often very 

 sulky, and hang on the bottom for some time, then 

 rush with violence under a bank, among weeds, &c. 



There is a Fish in the Broads (which are large 

 pieces of water so called, in Norfolk) much like the 

 Bream, which is known there by the name of Bream 

 Flats, Dace, or Red Eye ; it is a thicker Fish than 

 the Bream, and somewhat hog-backed, like the Perch, 

 and the fins are red : this Fish is generally covered 

 with a slimy substance, and is altogether a very in- 

 different Fish for the table ; they are easily taken 

 with worms, gentles, or paste. 



In looking into " Walton s complete Angler^' I find, 

 he notices Bream for breeding exceedingly : " Yea> 

 in some ponds so fast, as to over- store thcca, and 

 starve other Fish." This observation of the '' Father 

 of Anglers," I have proved, in several waters, to be 

 founded in fact, particularly in the East-India Dock, 



