THE RUDD. 59 



four-pound rudd exist in any great quantity, as I have never 

 seen one of that weight caught. I, however, firmly believe 

 that odd ones approaching that weight are in existence to- 

 day in the Bedfordshire Ouse, as I have seen in the clear 

 water among the weeds fish that have been veritable giants 

 ■of the race of rudd. Among the collections of preserved fish 

 shown at the Piscatorial Exhibition of 1892 was a specimen 

 that claimed to have once weighed 3^ lb. I made a long 

 examination of that fish, as well as the glass in front of it 

 would allow, and I could not help thinking that it had not 

 been taken with rod and line in the full vigour of its strength 

 and power, but rather that it had been picked up from, the 

 water in either a dead or a dying condition. I may be wrong, 

 but appearances were most decidedly in favour of that sup- 

 position. It might have scaled, when alive, the weight 

 stated ; in fact, I am rather inclined to the opinion that it 

 once weighed several ounces more than it did when finally 

 taken fromi the water. 



In the great Fisheries Exhibition of 1883 a rudd fromi the 

 Ouse was shown and took the specimen prize ; its weight was 

 put down at 2lb. 120Z. ; a good fish, although I must admit 

 that I know of several in existence that reached a greater 

 weight. Still, the fact remains the same, the fish from the 

 Ouse beat those shown by exhibitors from other waters. My 

 own top weight with rod and line for rudd was one that went 

 half an ounce over three pounds. I asked Mr. C. A. Bryant, 

 the chairman of the Huntingdon Anglers, who is and has 

 teen for many years one of the very best rudd fishermen in 

 the county, if he would give me his experience on this point, 

 ;and he very kindly does so as follows : " A gentleman, of 

 whose veracity I have not the slightest doubt, informs me 

 that when netting for tench (for stocking purposes) a part 

 of the Ouse of which he has the right of fishing, four rudd 

 were caught in the net, which, when weighed, were found to 

 scale 3 ^ lb. each, and were then returned to the water. The 

 largest rudd that I have ever taken weighed 31b. loz., and 

 the very best bit of sport I ever remember having was in 

 1882. In three hours I took eighteen, weighing exactly 

 361b., the most remarkable thing being that I hooked no 

 other fish of any kind or size. In 1883, one afternoon, out 



