58 THE IDE. 



hundred small yellow eggs of the size of poppy-seeds. When 

 the lek is over, both the sexes, in company, return the way 

 they came. 



The roe is deposited amongst grass, sticks, &c., and from 

 fourteen to thirty days afterwards, the time varying according 

 to the temperature, &c., the fry make their appearance. 

 Provided the water does not recede, they remain on or 

 about the spawning-ground until the end of August, by 

 which time they are about two inches in length, when 

 they descend the stream in innumerable shoals for deeper 

 water. Afterwards they appear to separate, and live more 

 apart. 



The ide is said to be of rapid growth, and, according to 

 Gmelin and Lacepede, able to propagate at the age of three 

 years. 



Swedish naturalists tell us that the ide never exceeds five 

 to six pounds in weight ; but this is somewhat under the 

 mark, for in my own immediate neighbourhood they have 

 occasionally been taken of seven pounds; and a friend of 

 mine, resident on the Wenern, assures me they have with 

 him attained to eight and even ten pounds weight. 



The ide is captured in a variety of ways : by the rod 

 and line, nets, and sundry devices, of which mention will 

 be made hereafter, chiefly, however, whilst spawning. Once, 

 to my shame, I took part in a chasse when the fish were 

 thus employed. It was in the night-time, and by torch- 

 light. Having first ascertained the whereabouts of the 

 lek, we drew a net across the stream somewhat below them, 

 and then attacking the fish from above with spears, &c., 

 we drove them towards the toils. As it was we killed a 

 good many one hundred and ten, I believe but had our 



