278 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 
The Bleak is so common throughout England in 
most rivers producing Roach and Dace, that any detailed 
description of its characteristics would be superfluous. 
Nor is it likely to be confounded with any other fish, as 
it is the only one of our fresh-water species which in 
shape is narrow as well as flat—in other words, Sprat- 
like. Bleak derive their name from their shining white* 
scales, in which, like a girl in her first ball-dress, they 
seem to be never weary of glancing to and fro, and 
coquetting with the midges as they flit out their three 
hours’ existence over their native stream. Accordingly, 
any small fly bearing a sufficient resemblance to these 
insects will commonly take Bleak in greater or less 
abundance, especially if a gentle is added on the hook- 
point; but the best method of Bleak-fishing is as 
follows :—Select a light fly-rod and line, a collar of the 
very finest stained gut, with a No. 1 hook (see p. 11), and 
at about two feet from the hook fasten a small round 
piece of cork, about the size of a large green pea, to act 
as a sort of float. Choose a swim where Bleak are 
rising—which if they are there, they will be tolerably 
sure to do—and having buried the small hook ina single 
large liver gentle, take a quarter of a handful of bran, 
and after giving it one quick squeeze under water, so as 
not quite to soak the whole of it, cast it into the water 
some ten yards or so from the shore or boat, and imme- 
* From a northern word signifying to bleach or whiten—J/ik, Danish ; 
blick (Swedish and German) “glance,” “ glimmer.” 
