CHAPTER XXXIV. 



THE POWAN. 



THE Powan (Coregonus La Cepedii or Gepedei) is another herring-like 

 fish, which has had bestowed upon it the cognomen "fresh-water 

 herring." La Cepede appears to have been the first to describe it, and 

 Dr. Parnell attached his name to it in consequence. This author refers 

 to it as existing in Loch Lomond in great numbers. They are caught 

 from March till September in drag nets, and occasional instances have 

 proved that they will take the artificial fly ; but a minnow, a bait liked 

 by other members of the trout-like family, they have never been known to 

 touch. Early in the morning and late in the evening large shoals of 

 them are observed approaching the shore in search of food, and rippling 

 the water with their fins as they advance. In this respect they resemble 

 the Vendace, hereafter to be described ; and I may remark that I have 

 seen rudd do the same in a lake when in large congregation. They are 

 never seen under any circumstances in the middle of the day. August 

 and September finds them in the best condition. They spawn from 

 October to the end of December. 



As will appear from the description which follows of a specimen, 14in. 

 long, there is very little danger of mistaking this fish for the Pollan ; 

 but Mr. Pennell has thought fit to give drawings of the mouths of each 

 in different positions. I recommend the reader to consult the "Angler- 

 Naturalist " for these. The difference is very striking. The originals of 

 these, it should be said, can also be seen in Vol. II. " YarrelTs British 

 Fishes," page 155. 



The specimen from Loch Lomond above referred to is thus described : 

 Head long and narrow, of an oval form, about one-fifth the length of the 

 whole fish, caudal fin included ; depth of body, between the dorsal and 

 ventral fins, less than the length of head ; colour of the back and side 

 a dusky blue, with the margin of each scale well defined by a number of 



