FISHES OF THE DISTRICT 199 



and silvery when taken from gravelly streams, 

 darker when from muddy bottoms. Eel-spearing 

 is a favourite pursuit in many parts of the district, 

 especially in the Kent " Pool." 



The Broad-nosed Eel (Anguilla latirostris) is 

 perhaps less commonly distributed than the last. 

 It affects more the estuaries of rivers, and has a 

 preference for deep holes. I have noticed it in 

 several tarns, and in very large numbers in the 

 Kent estuary. It does not attain to so large a size 

 as the preceding species. (Is the Broad-nosed Eel 

 a distinct species ?) 



THE LOACH (Nemachilus barbatuhis) 



The tiny loach is essentially a fish of shallow- 

 water conditions. In its haunt it is quite a hermit, 

 and loves to lie under loose, flat stones, from 

 between which it is slow to emerge. It is noc- 

 turnal in habit, and becomes quite lively when in 

 search of food at twilight. This consists of tiny 

 insects and larvae, and boys frequently entice the 

 loach from its dark retreat by dangling before it a 

 small red-worm. This predilection for worms is 

 also seen during a freshet, for then, like trout, the 

 loach gets into the quiet eddies and backwaters, 

 waiting for the soft-bodied creatures to pass. 

 Sometimes it may be seen foraging among the 

 aquatic grasses for anything which may have 

 lodged there. 



The loach spawns in spring ; though the only 

 fact on this head which is known with certainty is 

 its exceeding prolificness. It has been remarked 

 that the loach is particularly active at night, and, 



