320 



HISTORY OF FISHES. 



the lines must often be drawn to a hair-like 

 fineness; they must be tinctured of the pecu- 

 liar colour of the stream ; the bait must be 

 formed with the nicest art, and even, if pos- 

 sible, to exceed the perfection of nature: yet 

 still the fishes approach it with diffidence, and 

 often swim round it with disdain. The cod, 

 on the banks of Newfoundland, the instant 

 the hook, which is only baited with the guts 

 of the animal last taken, is dropped into the 

 water, darts to it at once, and the fishermen 

 have but to pull up as fast as they throw 

 down. But it is otherwise with those who 

 fish in fresh waters, they must wait whole 

 hours in fruitless expectation ; and the patience 

 of a fisherman is proverbial among us. 1 



1 Fish usually taken ly anglers in Great Britain. The 

 Barbel, so called from its four barbs, two of which are 

 at the corners of its mouth, and the others at the end of 

 its snout, is a heavy, dull fish, and gives very inferior 



Bport to the angler, in proportion to his size and strength. 

 They begin to shed their spawn about the middle of 

 April, and come in season about a month or six weeks 

 after. In their usual haunts, among weeds, &c., they 

 are fond of rooting with their nose like the pig. In sum- 

 mer, they frequent the most powerful and rapid currents, 

 and settle among logs of wood, piles, and weeds, where 

 they remain for along time apparently immovable; dur- 

 ing the winter time, they return to deep bottoms. The 

 most killing baits lor the barbel are the spawn of trout, 

 salmon, or indeed of any other fish, especially if it be 

 fresh, respecting which, the barbel is very cunning; the 

 paste that imitates it must, therefore, be well made, 

 and of fresh flavour. It is also an advisable plan to bait 

 the water over night, by spawn or a quantity of cut 

 w'orms. The barbel will also bite well at the cobworm, 

 gentles, and cheese, soaked in honey. The rod and 

 line, with which you fish for barbel, must both be ex- 

 tremely long, with a running plummet attached to the 

 latter, as they swim very close to the bottom. By a 

 gentle inclination of the rod, you may easily ascertain 

 when there is a bite; immediately upon which the fish 

 should be struck, and seldom escapes, unless he break 

 the line. 



The Bleak, or Blay, is a common river fish, so called 

 from its bleak or white appearance, that spawns in March ; 

 and is fond of many of the baits for trout. It is usually 

 caught with a small artificial fly of a brown colour; and 

 the hook should be suited in size to the fly. The bleak 

 seldom exceeds six inches in length; its flesh is highly 

 valued by epicures, and beads are made of its scales. 



Bream (see it figured at page 297) shed their spawn 

 about midsummer, and although they are occasionally 

 met with in slow running rivers, are reckoned a pond 

 fish, where they will thrive in the greatest perfection; 

 and have been known to weigh from eightto ten Ibs. In 

 fishing for them, the angler should be very silent, and 

 take all possible care to keep concealed from the fish, 

 which are angled for near the bottom. His tackle also 

 must be strong. This fish, according to Dr Shaw, is a 

 native of many parts of Europe, inhabiting the still lakes 

 and rivers, and sometimes found even in the Caspian 



This comparative neglect of food, which is 

 found in all the tribes of fresh-water fishes, 

 renders them less turbulent and less destruc- 

 tive among each other. Of all these the pike 



Bull head, or Miller's thumb, is a small ugly fish, 

 which hides itself in brooks and rivers under a gravelly 

 bottom. They spawn in April, and their average length 

 is from four to five inches. When their gill fins are cut 

 off they serve as good baits for pike and trout, and, like 

 the cray fish, when boiied, their flesh turns red. 



Carp (see it described at page 305) is a fish that by 

 its frequency of spawning, and quickness of growth, is 

 greatly used to stock ponds, where it thrives better, and 

 lives longer than in rivers. Gesner speaks of one who 

 lived to 100 years old; there is much doubt about its 

 general age, but it is supposed to be a very long lived 

 fish. They spawn three or four times a year, but the 

 earliest time is about the commencement of May. They 

 are observed to live uncommonly long out of water, and 

 in Holland are frequently kept alive for three weeks, or 

 a month, in a cool place, by being hung with wet moss 

 in a net, and fed with bread, steeped in milk. In ang- 

 ling for carp, it is necessary to make use of strong tackle, 

 with a fine gut next the hook, and a float formed of the 

 quill of a goose. They bite almost close to the bottom, 

 and are rarely caught if angled for in a boat. From its 

 subtlety, it has been sometimes called the water fox. 

 The river carp is accustomed to haunt, in the winter, the 

 most quiet and broad parts of the stream. In summer 

 they live in deep holes, reaches, and nooks, under the 

 roots of trees, and among great banks of weeds, until 

 they are in a rotten condition. The pond carp loves a 

 rich and fat soil, and will seldom or never thrive in cold, 

 hungry waters. The carp ponds of Germany yield a 

 considerable income to the gentry. 



The Chub, (see it figured at page 307) or Chevin, is, 

 like the perch, a very bold biter, and will rise eagerly 

 at a natural or artificial fly. They spawn in June, or 

 at the latter end of May, at which time they are easily 

 caught by a fly, a beetle with its legs and wings cut oflj 

 or still more successfully by a large snail. When they 

 are fished for at mid-water, or at bottom, a float should 

 be made use of; when at top, it is customary to dip for 

 them, or to use a fly, as if a trout were the angler's ob- 

 ject. Strong tackle is also requisite, as they are a heavy 

 fish, and usually require a landing net to pull them out. 

 Their average length is from ten to fourteen inches. 



Dace, Dart, or Dare, are a very active and cautious 

 fish, and rise to a fly, either real or artificial. It is 

 necessary, in angling for them, to remain in concealment 

 as much as possible. They spawn in February and 

 March, and their flesh is but inferior in point of flavour. 

 They frequent gravelly, clayey, and sandy bottoms, 

 leaves of the water lily, and deep holes, if well shaded. 

 In sultry weather they are frequently caught in the 

 shallows; and during that period, are best taken with 

 grasshoppers or gentles. In fishing at bottom for roach 

 and dace, who are similar in their haunts and disposition, 

 bread soaked in water, and kneaded to a good consistency, 

 and then made up together with bran into round balls, 

 and thrown into the place where it is proposed to angle, 

 will be found very serviceable, but must always be thrown 

 up the stream. There is a mode of intoxicating dace, 

 and by this means rendering them an easy prey; but this 

 is no part of the real angler's sport. The Thames is 

 well known to abound in dace, arid the graining of the 

 Mersey is thought to be a variety of the same species 



The Eel (see an account of eels at page 286) is rarely 

 angled for, but it is usually caught by the process of 

 sniggling or bobbing, with night lines, &c. Being fond 

 of quiet in the day time, all who expect much sport in 

 eel fishing must devote their evenings and even whole 

 nights to the pursuit. The method for sniggling for eels 



