POPE, OR RUFF. 119 



Pope, or Ruff. 



The Pope or RuiF is of the Perch species, and 

 iiiich like the Perch in its habits, forni, and flavour, 

 )eing firm and well-tasted, though they never grow 

 50 large ; they are taken with worms and gentles, 

 jut are rarely to be met with in the vicinity of London, 

 except in the little river Mole. There are many 

 n the Isis, near Oxford 3 the river Cam, near Cam- 

 bridge ; also in the Trent, and great numbers in the 

 •iver Yare in Norfolk. Put two No. 9 hooks on the 

 ine, and fish within a foot of the bottom : they 

 :)ite from March tiU September, and spawn some- 

 iimes in April, but seldom grow to the length of 

 seven inches ; they delight in quick gravelly eddies 

 Emd about wharfings. The best bait is a red worm 

 ground-bait with handfuls of small gravel or road- 

 sand thrown gently in, occasionally, at the spot where 

 you are fishing. 



I have caught a few Pope or RufF at Shepperton, 

 on the shallows close to the ferry-boat, while angling 

 for Gudgeons with a No. 10 hook, baited with a small 

 red worm ; fishing near the bottom with one hook 

 1 find more successful than in using two : if two are 

 used, let the bottom one be No. 9, and gently touch 

 the bottom, the other No. IQ, and so fixed on the 

 line as to be about nine or ten inches above. Pope 

 or RufF are a very lively free-biting little Fish, and 

 afford the Young Angler much amusement 3 the eye, 

 head, shoulders, and dorsal fin, (which it erects when 



