82 ANGLING. 



the statements, neither does he say that he ever heard these sounds 

 in his life. 



The bream grows very fast, and is remarkably tenacious of life 

 when taken out of the water during: cold weather. He can then 

 bear transporting alive to a great distance, providing he be care- 

 fully wrapped up in snow, with a morsel of bread steeped in 

 alcohol placed in his, mouth. This is a plan successfully adopted 

 in many parts of the continent. 



There are said to be three or four varieties of the bream in some 

 of the rivers in France, particularly in the Seine. The fisherman 

 in this river give the name of "Henriots" to the young fry, and 

 that of " Bremotes" to the middle-sized fish. 



Bloch says, "the bream is little esteemed; and still less when 

 he has been taken out of muddy waters, which give him a most 

 detestable flavour." 



This fish when large will afford the angler some sport ; but Ms 

 gastronomic imperfections are a great bar to him. Carp-tackle 

 and carp-baits are all good for him, and will kill him as well or 

 better than any other. 



The best season of the year for bream fishing is from June till 

 October, when he often disappoints the perch fisher by nibbling at 

 his clear, tough dew-worm a sort of bite which is often mistaken 

 for the gentle suckings of a small eel. The bream will perhaps 

 take this bait in preference to any other, although the gentle has a 

 powerful effect upon his fancy. 



The bait should be very near the bottom ; in fact, it should just 

 touch the ground. As soon as the fish nibbles he must be dealt 

 with on the instant, for, singular as it ma^ seem, the larger he is, 

 the more light and delicate his bite. If of large size something 

 like a big pair of bellows he will require some care and dexterity, 

 as, the moment he is hooked, he makes away for the weeds at 

 once, and if he succeed in getting into them you are done for ; and 

 it will prove a very difficult matter to dislodge him. 



When you have succeeded in getting him out of the water, be 

 careful not to handle him, as he possesses a most filthy hide ; but 

 get the hook out of his mouth in the quickest and best way you 

 can. 



The bream requires ground bait ; or at least it seems to be the 

 custom to use it in his case. The recipe already given for other 

 kinds of bottom fish will answer very well for him. 



The fish is very timid, shy, and crafty. He hides himself in 

 deep holes, and requires caution and silence, being easily 

 frightened from his haunts by the slightest disturbance of the 

 water. 



These fish bite early in the morning and late in the evening, 

 when the glare of day is off the waters, and all is calm and still. 

 It is well "for young anglers to practise their hand with large 

 bream, as they require considerable management, and will call into 

 requisition their patience and skill. Perhaps a slight float is 



