THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



271 



CHAPTER XV. 



Observations of the GUDGEON, the RUFFO, and the 

 BLEAK ; and how to Jish for them. 



PISCATOR. 



THE Gudgeon is reputed a fish of excellent taste, 

 and to be very wholesome. He is of a fine shape ; of 

 a silver colour, and beautified with black spots both on 

 his body and tail. He breeds two or three times in the 

 year; and, always, in summer. He is com mended for 

 a fish of excellent nourishment. The Germans call 

 him Groundling ; by reason of his feeding on the 

 ground,- and he, there, feasts himself, in sharp streams, 

 and on the gravel. He and the Barbel both feed so : 

 and do not hunt for flies at any time, as most other 

 fishes do. He is an excellent fish to enter a young 

 angler ; being easy to be taken with a small red- 

 worm, on or very near to the ground. He is one 

 of those leather- mouthed fish that has his teeth in his 

 throat, and will hardly be lost off from the hook if he 

 be once struck. 



They be, usually, scattered up and down every rive* 



