OR WALTONIAN CHRONICLE. 43 



THE BREAM. 



The Bream is a broad thin fish, often compared to a 

 pair of bellows, he is very bony, and but little es- 

 teemed as food, he is of the Roach make, but twice 

 as broad in proportion, a small sucking-mouth, head 

 large, and forked tail, they frequent deep water in 

 quiet parts. When the Bream bite, they very fre- 

 quently cause the float to lay flat on the surface of the 

 water ; this would, of itself, be sufficient to convince 

 the Angler that his bait should swim some distance 

 from the bottom, the fish could then take it with alter- 

 ing his horizontal position. 



The Bream spawn about July, and are in best sea- 

 son just before. Their best baits are paste, gentles, 

 wasp grubs, and red worms, a strong hook. No. 9. 

 He is a strong fish when first hooked, but after the 

 first turn or two you may land him without much 

 trouble, use a ground bait of clay and bran, grains, 

 &c. thrown in some time before you fish. 



Dagenham Breach, a large piece of water belong- 

 ing to Mr. Fry has numerous Bream, but of their 

 quality I cannot speak favourably, they have a sickly 

 unhealthy appearance, and when taken void a black 

 matter just like ink, arising from the soil on which 

 they feed. The Roach, Perch, &c. here, are all bad 

 tasted. 



Bream are found also in the Brent, between Han- 

 well and Brentford, in the Mole and Wey at Wey- 



c 



