THE BLEAK. 67 



Gudgeons are used in some parts of France to stock lakes, 

 ponds, and rapid streams, as food for pike, eels, and trout. 



When the gudgeon is well cleaned and wiped perfectly 

 dry, rubbed over with egg and bread crumbs, fried crisp 

 in butter, and served up with hot melted butter, and new 

 well-buttered hot household bread, he is a very delicious 

 fish. At the breakfast-table, when in this condition, he is 

 inimitable. The French have many modes of cooking 

 him; but we think none better than this. 



23Uak U'&ble ou 



The BLEAK abound in nearly all the rivers and fresh 

 waters of Europe; but they are to be found in prodigious 

 numbers in the Caspian sea, from whence, according to 

 some authors, they were originally introduced into Europe. 



This fish is very active, handsome, and well formed, and 

 when first taken out of the water, shines like a bar of silver. 

 His beautiful sparkling scales are used by artists to give 

 to the mock pearls the beauty and brilliancy of those of 

 the East. The white scales only are employed in this in- 

 genious process. 



The bleak spawns in May or June and multiplies pro- 

 digiously. It is well that he does so ; for he has many ene- 

 mies. Waterfowl are said to prefer this fish to any other. 



These merry fish are to be seen constantly in fine warm 

 days playing on the surface of the water; but they in- 

 finitely prefer rushing, powerful streams, in the middle 

 or on the borders of which, they are to be caught in the 

 greatest quantities, and with the most surprising rapidity. 



There is a very fine kind of bleak in the fosses beneath 

 the ramparts of Bergues and St. Omer, in the Pas-de- 

 Calais, and similar places in the north of France, which 

 are as big as ordinary herrings. 



