FISHES 



date 20 August, 1872, the capture of one at Barrow-on- 

 Soar which weighed iyf lb., and measured 3 \ ft. 

 in length. It was presented to the museum by 

 Mr. Noble, of Barrow. Col. Palmer, writing in 1888, 

 said that some very large pike had been taken out of 

 the water at Withcote at different periods, one, a 

 diseased fish, caught some fifteen years before measured 

 42 in. in length, but only weighed about 1 3 lb. It 

 seemed to be invaded by a fungoid growth, and was 

 buried at once. The late Dr. Macaulay had a speci- 

 men which he caught at Wistow in October, 1872, 

 which weighed 20 lb. He also related that about 

 1870 he was fishing at Saddington with the Rev. H. 

 Matthews, when the latter hooked and lost a very 

 large fish which broke his line. A week after the fish 

 was found dead with the tackle in its throat. It 

 weighed 25 lb., and would have been much more if in 

 condition. 



OSTARIOPHYSI 



9. Carp. Cyfrinui carpio, Linn. 



According to Harley it occurs in some parts of the 

 River Soar, and abounds in pools such as those of 

 Groby and Saddington. There are large carp, so 

 Col. Palmer informed me, at Owston, where there 

 appear to be remains of ancient monastic 'stews.' 

 The Leicester Daily Express of 21 October, 1893, con- 

 tained an account of the capture by Mr. C. Baugh, of 

 Leicester, of a remarkably fine carp which measured 

 2 ft. 4 in., and weighed 12 lb. 9^ oz. Amongst other 

 fish Mr. Baugh also caught another carp weighing 

 5% lb. These were, it now appears, taken at Coleorton, 

 and a cast was made from the larger for the Leicester 

 Museum. 



10. Crucian Carp. Cyprinus carassius, Linn. 



Locally, Prussian Carp (varieties or lean ex- 

 amples). 



Occurs sparingly in some ponds of Leicestershire. 



1 1 . Barbel. Barbus vulgaris, Flem. 



According to Harley it occurred occasionally in the 

 Soar, near its junction with the Trent and Derwent, 

 and was frequently ought below Loughborough. I 

 have no recent note. 



12. Gudgeon. GobioJluviatiHs,$\em.. 



Common in the Soar and in various parts of the 

 county. The largest I have seen have been taken at 

 Thornton Reservoir. 



13. Rudd. Lcuciscuj erythrophthalmus, Linn. 



Locally, Red-eye. 



Harley stated that it occasionally occurred in the 

 Soar ; and according to the late Dr. Macaulay it 

 exists in a pool at Welham and attains a large size, 

 two having been taken, in 1888, over 2 lb. each, but 

 I have no confirmation of this. 



14. Roach. Leuciscus rutilus, Linn. 



Commonly distributed. The museum possesses a 

 cast of a specimen which turned the scale at 2 lb. 

 The fish was taken in Narborough waters 5 October, 

 1886, by Mr. J. Pole. In the Leicester Journal of 



13 January, 1888, an account is given of an extra- 

 ordinary capture of large roach in Leicester waters, 

 when in two days no less than 200 lb. of fish were 

 caught by different anglers. These, many of which I 

 saw, were taken at the junction of the Soar with the 

 canal, just below the Aylestone Mill. Mr. B. G. 

 Broadhead caught a roach weighing 2 lb. 2 oz. in the 

 Aylestone Mill waters, on 15 December, 1888. The 

 late R. Rylott, the celebrated cricketer, took one of 

 I lb. 5 oz. weight, in Aylestone waters on I Novem- 

 ber, 1889, and one of I lb. 6 oz. at the same place 

 on 10 February, 1890, which he presented to the 

 Leicester Museum. The late Dr. Macaulay informed 

 me that in 1885 he and two friends caught at Sad- 

 dington Reservoir 550 roach in four hours, which 

 he believed to be the largest number on record for 

 the time occupied. 



15. Chub. Leuciscus cephalus, Linn. 



Generally distributed, attaining a good size. A 

 specimen taken at Aylestone 6 February, 1883, by 

 Mr. A. Smith, weighed 4^ lb. Mr. T. Lumb, of 

 Wharf Street, presented to the museum an exceed- 

 ingly fine specimen weighing 5 lb. 2 J oz., taken in the 

 River Soar at Narborough on 27 P'ebruary, 1883, and 

 also another weighing 5 lb. ^ oz., which he took in 

 the afternoon of 6 February, 1885, whilst ledgering 

 with fine tackle and cheese-paste. This fish afforded 

 capital sport, some difficulty being experienced in 

 landing it. The specimens were taken in the same 

 swim of water about 80 yards apart, and both were in 

 splendid condition. Mr. G. Lillingston Johnson, 

 however, reports that he once caught one weigh- 

 ing 6 lb. at Thornton Reservoir, which is now pre- 

 served and in his possession. The late Rev. C. H. 

 Wood informed me that about 1868 he took, out of 

 Croft Brook with a small spoon bait, a chub which 

 we'ghed 4lb. looz. 



1 6. Dace. Leuciscus Joluta, Linn. (L. vulgaris, Day) 



Generally distributed in sharp streams and back- 

 waters of the rivers. A specimen weighing 1 2 oz. 

 was taken by Mr. J. W. Benskin in the Srar near 

 Barrow, some years ago. The late Dr. Macaulay 

 informed me that it existed in the Smeeton, Wis- 

 tow, and Burton brooks. 



IJ. Minnow. Leuciscus phoxinus, Linn. 



Generally distributed in sharp streams throughout 

 the county. 



1 8. Tench. Tinea vulgaris, Cuv. 



Not very common, Harley stating that ' it does not 

 frequent our streams and rivers, prevailing only in 

 ponds, stagnant pools, reservoirs, and stews.' He also 

 referred to its well-known habit of smacking its lips 

 when near the surface in summer-time. Col. Palmer 

 informed me that, at Owston, large tench are found 

 with the carp in the ' stews ' previously referred to. 



Dr. J. Young, of Narborough, sent me a specimen 

 caught at Enderby Mill 27 June, 1891. The Daily 

 Mail of 8 March, 1902, reports that during the 

 process of cleaning out Misterton Pond, near Lutter- 

 worth, a remarkable haul of fish was made, irc'ud- 

 ing sixty-five tench, weighing from 3 lb. upwards. 

 Mr. C. Baugh, of Leicester, took also a tench weigh- 

 ing 3 lb. \\ oz. 



109 



