sir 



very handsome ; not very dissimilar to the carp, but not 

 so deep in the body. His meat is not delicate, and, 

 owing to the immense number of small bones to be found 

 in every part, is not much esteemed. 



Just before their spawning time, they are worth catch- 

 ing for their roes j which, made into a pye, well sea* 

 soned, and with a dash of vinegar, are delicious. The 

 month of March, or beginning of April, is the best 

 time for the above purpose. During a fortnight, or more, 

 after spawning, they are we.: 1 ', and consequently, flabby,- 

 but they recover gradually, and are in high season about 

 Christmas, at which time the small bones are not so nu- 

 merous, or, perhaps, become more distinct, and consc- 

 quently, not so dangerous or troublesome. 



In various waters, these fishes grow to different sizes : 

 in small brooks they very rarely exceed three pounds, but 

 in larger rivers, where they get plenty of food, and a 

 rapid change of water, they reach to a large size. I sa\c~ 

 four caught under a iveir in one evening, of which the 

 smallest weighed eight pounds, the largest upwards of 

 nine. They atfbrd excellent sport, being peculiarly' 

 strong and impetuous. 



When rendered desperate, they will run, head on;, 

 against a boat, &c. and make furious plunges to the bot- 

 tom, especially in deep :,trong waters. 



They will not lay much in muddy situations, {fat pre- 

 fer sand, or those clay holes found under steep banks 

 overshadowed with, arborage : they are partial to the 

 steep sides of the aights (or small islands) in the larger 1 

 rivers, where they creep into the holes made by water- 

 rats, &c. 



It is extremely common to see rerjr fine fishes taken 

 * out 



