FISHES. 233 



BARBEL. As we have only one record, and that unfortunately open 

 Barbus Vulgaris. to some little question, of the existence of 



Barbel in Shropshire, this paragraph appears 

 in small type. The strong sport-giving Barbel is commonly found 

 in the Thames and in the eastern waters of this country, where it 

 sometimes grows to 15 Ibs. in weight. It ranks in the angler's rough 

 and ready category of " Coarse fish," and makes but a poor dish for 

 the table. Why it is that Barbel are plentiful in the Thames and 

 Trent, and not, on the contrary, in the mid and lower reaches of the 

 Severn, we are at a loss to explain, as these two important rivers 

 have natural characteristics much in common. The fish is remark- 

 able for the strong wattles which depend from its jaws, the larger 

 pair from the upper and the smaller from the lower. Several 

 angling writers record the fact that the roe of the Barbel is of a 

 poisonous nature. The record, to which we have referred, of the 

 capture of a Barbel in Shropshire is involved in some mystery, but 

 the instance is believed to be authentic. The specimen is said to 

 have weighed something approaching 15 Ibs., and it was caught a 

 year or so ago how we refrain from stating in the deep still pool 

 in the Severn at Shrewsbury, known as " Blockley's hole." This is 

 certainly a place where one might expect to find such a fish ; and it 

 is more than likely that the one landed was not a solitary stranger. 



GUDGEON. Occurs in many parts of the Severn, Vyrnwy, 



Gobio fluviatilis. Rea, and most of the tributaries, but 



its numbers are kept in check by other 



fish preying upon it, especially Pike. It lives and feeds 



exclusively at the bottom a habit common to fish that 



are furnished with barbels or beards pendant from the 



mouth. 



ROACH. A pretty silvery fish with bright red lower fins, 



Leuciscus mtilus. found in most streams and pools; often 



in abundance. Much esteemed by that 



large section of anglers commonly termed, but to an 



extent misnamed, bottom-fishers. Roach are somewhat 



