THE BREAM. 



THEEE are two kinds of this fish the white or silver Bream, 

 and the gold or Carp Bream. Their flesh is generally con- 

 sidered coarse, and scarcely fit to be eaten, but I am of a 

 different opinion, for I believe the Carp Bream to be a splendid 

 fish, and very excellent food when properly cooked. The other 

 the white Bream is, however, very coarse. When small, 

 say about a pound, there is not much difference in the appear- 

 ance of the two ; in fact, it would be a difficult matter to tell 

 which was which. After the white Bream exceeds this weight, 

 it gradually loses its silvery appearance, and becomes of a smoky 

 black colour. This is the common Bream found in ponds, lakes, 

 and almost in every deep river in England. He is rather an 

 awkward customer to kill with fine tackle, but after he is on the 

 bank he is not much cared for. The Carp Bream, after it 

 exceeds a pound weight, becomes of a bright gold colour, which 

 it retains ever after, no matter how large it grows. 



Bream spawn about the latter end of May ; never sooner, and 

 seldom later. Prom the 20th to the 26th of that month, they 

 will generally be found spawning. Although they are shy fish, 

 living in deep water all the year round, and often very difficult 

 to catch, they seem to lose all fear at this season. They with- 

 draw from the deep waters, and seek that part of the river or 

 pond which is the fullest of weeds, on the top of which they 

 deposit their spawn. I have seen them when spawning by 



