THE MINNOW THE SMELT. 79 



competent judges affirm that there is nothing comparable 

 to him when he has been killed by immersion in wine or 

 milk. In matters of the mouth the French really are a 

 refined people; but this seems to be refining with a 

 vengeance. 



Loaches spawn in the later spring and breed freely. 

 They will live a very long time in small trunks, provided 

 they are placed in the very middle of a rapid stream. 



jJWinnofo He Feron. 



Walton calls this fish the PENK, which has been 

 corrupted into pink, and in Ireland into pinkeens; and if 

 this were the only liberty which some fishing-book makers 

 have taken with dear old Izaak, there would be nothing 

 much to complain of on that score at least. 



The minnow is a remarkably handsome little fish, 

 beautifully coloured and shaped, as exquisite in his 

 graceful proportions as the salmon himself. He casts his 

 spawn at the commencement of summer; multiplies 

 prodigiously and rapidly, but is supposed erroneously 

 perhaps not to possess the power of spawning until 

 arrived at the age of four years. He frequents limpid 

 waters and rapid currents, and generally swims near the 

 surface when undisturbed. He delights in rivers with 

 pebbly or sandy bottoms, and is invariably to be found 

 in the same streams with the trout. 



The flesh of the minnow is very delicate, white, 

 wholesome, tender, and of a delicious flavour ; especially 

 when treated according to our receipt for cooking the 

 gudgeon. 



He can be fished for at all seasons, winter or summer. 

 This fish lives a very short time after he has been taken 

 out of the water. 



