223 



The tench is a great struggler, and very fond of 

 plunging down with your hook when he feels its point : 

 give fair play, for in waters where they abound, you will 

 rarely find those very small that take your bait : they ge- 

 nerally weigh at least half a pound, and, taken one with 

 another, will amount to full a pound and an half eacl^ 

 I do not think they grow near so large in rivers as in 

 ponds. 



Like the generality of fishes, the tench bites most freely 

 during the cool of the morning, and of the evening, in 

 summer : indeed, during the winter they are not easily 

 taken. I have, however, observed, that the time of day 

 makes very little difference if the water be deep, and 

 especially after it has been sullied by heavy rains, or by a 

 fresh. * 



With regard to the fly> it is of little or no use -, for 

 though possibly a tench may now and then be caught in 

 that manner, it must not be construed into a habit. In- 

 deed, from their peculiar tendency to suck the mud, we 

 may more properly conclude that they subsist chiefly oil 

 maggots, &c. they find therein ; and this is confirmed by 

 their sometimes biting at snails, perriivinkles, and gentles; 

 they likewise take the small green willow -caterpillar, 

 and such as are found on the leaves of currant-bushes., on 

 rape, turnips, &c. 



Of the Carp. 



Carps form so large a portion of the stock in our fish- 

 ponds, as to be entitled to particular notice, especially as 

 they afford fine sport to the angler, being very strong, 

 great strugglers, and remarkably cunning. They are 

 greatly admired when stewed j without which prepara- 

 L 4 tion 



