THE BARBEL. 1 



HE Barbel is distinguished from the 

 last genus (Cyprinus) in having the 

 back- and anal-fins short instead of 

 elongated, with a strong bony ray in 

 the dorsal fin, the mouth also being furnished 

 with four barbels or " beards." Exclusively a 

 river-fish, it is a native of many parts of England, 

 and abounds particularly in the Trent and the 

 Thames ; in the latter being so numerous, that 

 in the neighbourhood of Weybridge as much as 

 280 Ibs. weight have been taken, according to 

 local tradition, by a single rod in one day. At 

 Temple Weir, near Marlow, I have also known 

 some extraordinary baskets to be made. 



Although, in an angling point of view, less wary 

 and difficult of capture than the Carp, the Barbel, 

 both in its natural state and in confinement, is the 

 shyest and most untameable of all our freshwater 

 fish, except perhaps the Loach, exhibiting an ex- 



1 Barbus vulgaris. "Bearded," from barba^ a beard, Lat.; 

 iS) common, Lat. 



