i66 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART i. 



the largest in this nation, being ten miles in length, and some say 

 as smooth in the bottom as if it were paved with polished marble. 

 This fish never exceeds fifteen or sixteen inches in length ; and is 

 spotted like a Trout ; and has scarce a bone, but on the back. 

 But this, though I do not know whether it make the angler sport, 

 yet I would have you take notice of it, because it is a rarity, and 

 of so high esteem with persons of great note. 



Nor would I have you ignorant of a rare fish called a GUINIAD ; 

 of which I shall tell you what Camden and others speak. The 

 river Dee, which runs by Chester, springs in Merionethshire ; 

 and, as it runs toward Chester, it runs through Pemble Mere, 

 which is a large water : and it is observed, that though the river 

 Dee abounds with Salmon, and Pemble Mere with the Guiniad, 

 yet there is never any Salmon caught in the mere, nor a Guiniad 

 in the river. And now my next observation shall be of the 

 Barbel.* 



PiSCATOR. THE Barbel is so called, says Gesner, by reason of 

 his barb or wattles at his mouth, which are under his nose or chaps. 



CHAP. xiv. He is one of those leather-mouthed fishes that I 



Of the Barbel. told y(m Q ^ ^^ does very se l dom fc rea k h j s hold 



if he be once hooked : but he is so strong, that he will often 

 break both rod and line, if he proves to be a big one. 



But the Barbel,t though he be of a fine shape, and looks big, 

 yet he is not accounted the best fish to eat, neither for his whole - 

 someness nor his taste ; but the male is reputed much better than 



* This fish is found, according to Pennant, in Lough Neagh in Ireland, where it is 

 termed the Pollen, and in Lochmaben in Scotland, where it is called the Vangis. It is 

 also a native of the Lakes of Cumberland, and of Pemble Mere in Merionethshire. In 

 shape it is somewhat similar to the dace, but attains a much greater size, weighing some- 

 times three or four pounds. Schaeffer, however, asserts that in the Alpine parts of 

 Europe, it is caught of the weight of ten or twelve pounds. One peculiar mark by which 

 it may be distinguished is, that its ventral fins are of a very deep blue, and the belly at 

 most seasons marked with blue spots. It is gregarious, and during spring and summer 

 approaches the shores of the lakes in such vast shoals that an instance is recorded of an 

 Ulleswater fisherman taking at one draught between seven and eight thousand. They 

 are never, according to some authorities, taken by any bait, but keep at the bottom of 

 the lake feeding on shells and the leaves of the water gladiol. A writer who styles himself 

 "Piscator" in the Sporting Magazine for August 1829, observes, however: "There is a 

 fish in Bala Lake called ' gwyniad,' or whiting. It is the same fish that is called ' sewin ' 

 in the north, and shows very tolerable sport. It is taken with any of the trout flies, and 

 is very nimble in its movements. Sir Humphry Davy alludes to it in his ' Salmonia,' 

 and mentions his having taken some in Bala Lake." The statement of Camden alluded 

 to in the text, that the guiniad never wanders into the Dee, and that the salmon never 

 ventures into Pemble Mere, is erroneous, inasmuch as the late Honourable Daines 

 Barrington asserts that he had seen salmon taken in the lake, and had been "most 

 authentically informed " that guiniad had been taken at Landrillo, six miles below the 

 lake. 



t The coat armour of the ancient Counts of Bar was azure semee of cross-crosslets, 

 two Barbels addorsed or. 



