6o THE RUDD. 



of the same s^v'iml, I got twelve which just turned the scale 

 at 241b. In 1884 the four best specimens which fell to my 

 rod, and which I had set up, averaged a trifle over 2 lb. 8oz. 

 each, the largest going 2lb. 150Z. ; and since then, up to the 

 present, I generally manage to get a few every season running 

 from 2lb. to 2 lb. 8oz., and a few odd ones over the latter 

 weight." This experience of Mr. Bryant's, I should say, is. 

 a record, and perhaps stands alone in the annals of big rudd 

 capture. 



The rudd feeds somewhat similar to the chub, that is in 

 a general way, either on the surface or in midwater ; ic i& 

 very seldom, found on the bottom, in very deep water. When 

 the angler does meet with it when bottomi fishing for roach, 

 it is mostly in the shallow streams, by the side of a consider- 

 able bank or run of weeds during the early part of the sum- 

 mer. I don't wash it to be understood for a moment that 

 rudd are found in exactly similar places to the chub. When 

 I say they feed somewhat similar I meant in taking a bait 

 on the surface or in midwater. The chub delights in smart 

 streams with a clear gravelly bottom, while the rudd particu- 

 larly likes a very gentle stream with a regular jungle-like under 

 growth of weeds, especially if that same undergrowth is from 

 a foot to eighteen inches below the surface of the water, and 

 where flags and rush beds do abound, with here and there 

 the huge leaf of the water-lily dotted around. In some parts 

 of the river the growth of weeds is so thick as to cover the 

 whole surface, the flow of the stream, is checked, and the 

 water rendered, comparatively speaking, stagnant. Such a 

 place as that is not a safe find for big rudd, where they do 

 most abound is where a gentle stream meanders in and out 

 among a scattered growth of weeds, where the water-lily leaf 

 affords shelter to them, for they lurk beneath the shadow of 

 those big leaves. Corners and bends of the river seemi to 

 be very favourite haunts of these fish, especially if there are 

 bunches of weeds a yard or so apart, with a little clear un- 

 obstructed stream^ flowing gently between these said bunches. 

 It seems to be difficult to tell on paper their favourite haunts, 

 but a little observation will soon render the angler conver- 

 sant with this ; but what I would most particularly impress 

 on him is this — Don't expect to find rudd in very deep water 



