SECTION II. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE BARBEL, GUDGEON, AND LOACH, AND DIRECTIONS 

 HOW TO ANGLE FOR THEM. 



The Barbel. 



The barbel presents a pleasing appearance to the eye, being of 

 slender form ; the back and upper part of the body are of an olive 

 green colour, gradually assuming a lighter tint towards the belly 

 which is white, whilst the sides have a beautiful bronze cast. The 

 scales are smaller than those of most of the carp tribe, and 

 are very neatly arranged. The head is rather long from the ex- 

 tremity of the gill cover to the muzzle, which is remarkable as 

 well for its overhanging upper jaw as thl flesh 'Coloured upper lip 

 ornamented with four barbules, two in front, and one on each 

 corner of the mouth, giving the fish altogether a very peculiar 

 appearance. 



Of the barbel, Walton remarks, that he is not accounted the 

 best fish to eat either for his wholesomeness or his taste, and it 

 seems [that the spawn produces very injurious effects, causing 

 both purging and vomiting to a most painful and alarming degree, 

 quite sufficient indeed to prevent the boldest feeder from venturing 

 upon it a second time, in which respect he may be said to differ 

 widely from the chub, the spawn of the latter fish being considered 

 the best part of him. Still as the barbel is a crafty fish to deceive 

 and a lusty one to subdue, he affords no mean amusement to those 

 who fish for sport alone, without attaching much importance to the 

 potvalue of the catch ; the main object of the enterprize being to 

 capture or kill the enemy, without the slightest design of feasting 



