206 THE GUDGEON. 



they often contrive to suck off the latter bait without taking the 

 hook into their mouths. If they appear indifferent about taking 

 the bait, keep it gently in motion within their view drawing it 

 a slight distance away from them, raising it a few inches from the 

 ground, and letting it fall again ; by which means you will most 

 likely entice them to lay hold of the morsel they previously slight- 

 ed, though if any one had made a start after it, the rest would 

 have been certain to have done the same ; so that by pursuing the 

 tantalizing system, like Sam Slick's " soft sawder and human na- 

 tur,' ' you may catch at least double the number you would do, if 

 you were to let the bait remain quietly at the bottom. If there is 

 any current the bait may be drifted gently along into their com- 

 pany, keeping it just clear of the ground. When the water is 

 clear and shallow, it is the better plan to dispense with a float ; 

 but when you are unable to see the fish distinctly, then a small 

 float must be used : but you must take care to fish sufficiently 

 deep to allow the bait to drag the bottom. Give a little time 

 when the fish bites, and don't strike with a slack line : for if you 

 do you'll miss the fish, when it's ten to one if you catch another 

 for the rest of the day at that standing. 



Gudgeons spawn among the stones in the shallows, and gene- 

 rally during the month of May ; the operation in fact lasting all 

 the month through : but they are in good season again by the lat- 

 ter end of June. Their eggs are smaller than even those of the 

 minnow, from which they are easily distinguishable by being of a 

 bluish colour, whilst those of the minnow are af a deep orange 

 hue. It is considered by the learned in these matters, that old 

 mother Shipton's prophecy of seven women to a man has been 

 nearly fulfilled amongst the gudgeons ; the number of females as 

 amongst them being as six to one to the males. In this respect 

 the gudgeon differs from most of the carp tribe, the proportion of 

 males being in general greater than that of the females. 



