46 THE YELLOW BREAM. 



the season of the year, the nature of the water, &c. The 

 variation is at times so great as to cause some ichthyologists 

 to doubt whether they are separate species or not. The 

 younger ones are always less deep in colour in proportion to 

 the length of the body than the older ones, and have a more 

 slender shape ; and at this age, therefore, the fishermen 

 frequently confound them with others of the bream tribe. 



The favourite summer haunts of the yellow bream are 

 clear and moderately deep water, with a grassy bottom, espe- 

 cially where the Isoetes lacustris, Linn., grows, which he 

 roots up with his snout, as a swine does ; which grass-like 

 plant, when seen floating on the surface, gives information 

 of the track he has pursued, and of his then whereabouts. 

 Hence braxen-gras, or bream-grass, is the name by which the 

 plant in question commonly goes in Sweden. But as the 

 season advances this fish retires to the deeps, where he 

 selects for himself quarters for the winter, and here, closely 

 packed together, he remains during that inclement season. 

 Such places, generally known to the fishermen, are called 

 braxen-stdnd, or bream-stands. 



The yellow bream is a cautious, cunning, and extremely 

 shy fish. He is seldom met with alone, but almost invariably 

 in smaller or larger shoals. Loud noises, such as thunder, 

 the ringing of bells,* shots, and the like, always send him to 

 the bottom, from whence, after such an alarm, he does not 

 return for several days. 



He is very tenacious of life, and if packed in wet grass 

 can be transported a great distance. 



* In certain parishes in Westergothland that border on the "Wenern, the 

 church bells, for this reason, are not allowed to be rung during the spawning 

 season. 



