14 



CHAPTER III 

 BREAM AND BARBEL. 



BREAM (Abvamis bvama). 



BREAM belong to the larger class 

 of coarse fish, and are much in 

 quest by anglers. They are plen- 

 tiful in most of our British rivers 

 and ponds, and are widely distri- 

 buted all over Europe. Most of 

 the large Irish lakes hold them, 

 but they are seldom fished for, 

 the presence of higher game dis- 

 counting their value. Ichthyolo- 

 gists are divided as to the varie- 

 ties. Some account for three dis- 

 tinct species : silver bream, bream 

 flat, and the common bream ; 

 others are equally dogmatic in 

 alleging that the three are in 

 reality one, viz., Abramis bmma. 

 As our business is how to catch 

 the fish rather than classify them, 

 we shall not enter on the vexed 

 controversy. 



They spawn in May, June and 

 July, laying a large number of ova, 

 and are consequently found in 

 immense shoals in the rivers. 

 The female fish, during the spawn- 

 ing season, loses the characteristic 

 grey colour and becomes a redder 

 hue. In five or six weeks they 

 get into a fit condition to reward 

 the angler's prowess. About 

 October they take to deep water, 

 and alluring them with any form 

 of bait is next to impossible. 



An acquaintance with the river 

 is a great advantage to the angler, 

 and it is advisable in the absence 

 of such knowledge to secure the 

 services of some one who knows 

 their haunts. Failing this, a few 

 hints may be serviceable. 



In clear water and a bright 

 sun they frequently indicate their 



whereabouts by the flashing of 

 their sides as they turn in the 

 stream. Once discovered, it is 

 well to keep to the spot, even 

 though they do not at first patro- 

 nize the angler's lure. One does 

 not catch fish whilst moving 

 about, and they may begin to 

 feed any moment. If one shoal 

 moves off, another may take its 

 place, and be in a more sporting 

 mood than the late occupants. 

 Quiet, too, is indispensable, and 

 prowling about the bank of the 

 river may scare the bream that 

 would otherwise be disposed to 

 bite. When they cannot be act- 

 ually seen their presence may be 

 detected by air bubbles rising and 

 breaking on the surface of the 

 water. They emit a good deal of 

 oxygen from the bellows move- 

 ment of their mouths when feed- 

 ing. The mud stirred up from 

 the bottom when they root for 

 food frequently discolours the 

 water. This in conjunction with 

 the air bubbles not only indicates 

 their whereabouts, but is a sign 

 that they mean business, and the 

 angler may hopefully approach 

 them with his ware. It is advis- 

 able to bait for them over-night, 

 and be on the banks of the river 

 at cock-crow. 



The ground bait advised for 

 roach, with the addition of pota- 

 toes, is suitable for river bream. 

 For still water, bran and toppings, 

 which can be procured at a corn- 

 dealer's, kneaded into balls, is 

 effective in drawing them to- 

 gether. Oil cake added to either 

 of these forms of baiting is often 

 used. Boiled wheat is another 



