THE BLEAK AND MINNOW. 223 



The bleak is by no means a general fish, being found chiefly in 

 the Thames and its tributaries, nor is it in much repute as an 

 article of food, except in the estimation of the large Thames trout ; 

 a well spun bleak under the management of a skilful hand being 

 the most tempting bait that can be offered to them. 



Minnows are too well known to need any particular description. 

 They may be taken very easily with a small piece of red worm 

 baited on a moderately sized hook in the same manner as before 

 pointed out for catching gudgeons, and keeping the bait in 

 motion if they do not at once seize hold of it. Although chiefly 

 used as a bait for catching other fish, they make an excellent fry 

 in their own proper persons, few fresh water fish affording a more 

 delicious dish ; but they must be carefully gutted, otherwise they 

 will have a bitter taste that is far from agreeable : you may how- 

 ever eat them bones heads and all. The greater number of these 

 fish spawn sometime in the month of June, but some cast their roes 

 much later ; some females full of spawn being to be taken all 

 through the summer. Whilst the act of spawning is going on the 

 males assume a dark colour on the back and a dull reddish cast 

 under the belly, which is then very lank and thin, and renders 

 the large ventral fins, which distinguish the males, very conspicu- 

 ous ; the warty excrescenses on the head are also very perceptible 

 in the males, but very slightly visible in the females, who become 

 much less altered in appearance at these times. The spawn is 

 deposited chiefly in the very shallow water among the gravel, and 

 becomes vivified in the course of a very few days afterwards. 



When minnows are required for bait only, they may be taken 

 with a small dip net, having a few minute pieces of red cloth or 

 worsted attached to it to represent a worm ; and anything white 

 and shining, as an oyster shell or a piece of broken crockeryware, 

 often proves a powerful attraction. Great numbers may also be 

 taken with a casting net. 



