79 



hundreds together, lying with their back fins out of the water, 

 and seemingly indifferent to any molestation ; and I have known 

 a keeper on the Trent to catch no less than eighteen hundred 

 weight of them at this season, at one draw of the net ; two of 

 the lot weighed sixteen pounds, and many of them were Carp 

 Bream, They lie in a sickly torpid state for a week after 

 spawning, and then, having regained a little strength, they make 

 for a gentle stream with a gravelly bottom, to clean and scour 

 themselves. They remain there about a fortnight, and then 

 return to the deep still waters, with a clayey, marly, or sandy 

 bottom. Some say they are partial to muddy or gravelly bot- 

 toms, but 1 have always caught them best on the first-mentioned 

 three. There is nothing that will shift them from the deeps 

 except a rise in the water, which will make them retire to gentle 

 streams, about three or four feet on a sandy bottom, in which 

 places I have often had very good sport with Bream. 



THE BEST MONTHS for Bream fishing are July, August, and 

 September, and October, if the weather is fine. I have also 

 caught them well in March and April, but in these two months 

 the water must be coloured and high. At that time of the year 

 they will be found in gentle swims of from three to five feet 

 deep, on a sandy bottom. I have rarely caught them in spring 

 when the water was clear. 



THE BEST BAITS for Bream are the cockspur and dew-worms. 

 Although I have caught a few fish now and then with white 

 paste, gentles, wasp-grub, scratching, and pith, there is, in my 

 opinion, no bait that can equal the worm all through the season. 

 As there is only one method to fish for Bream, and that is to 

 bottom fish for him, if you want to have good sport, you must 

 ground-bait the place you intend to fish the day before, and if 

 you think there is a good stock of fish in the place you have 

 selected, you can give them fifteen hundred dew-worms, allowing 

 twenty hours to elapse after you have done so before commen- 

 cing to angle for them, when you will be sure to find them in 

 good humour to bite. I remember going to bait a Bream place 

 for a party of gentlemen last September. The water was clear 



