GUDGEOX-FISHING. 19 



ing, I shall proceed to treat in order of the various fish 

 taken by this means with the plans and baits employed in 

 capturing them, beginning with the easiest of the angler's 

 pursuits, and so working my way through all grades until 

 the proud position of M.A.-ship, or, as the old joke has it, 

 of senior Angler, is reached. 



THE GUDGEON (Cyprinu* gobio, LINN.). 



The gudgeon is gregarious, and swims in large shoals. 

 It is a lively little fish, and a very sharp biter ; and when 

 the fish are feeding well, it is no very uncommon thing to 

 take from five to six, or even seven dozen in one pitch. 

 The gudgeon spawns on the gravel in shallows and rapids 

 in May. The ova soon hatch, the young fry grow rapidly, 

 and by August they have usually attained the length of an 

 inch. A gudgeon of six inches is a good size, of seven of 

 unusual size ; but they seldom attain to eight, though I 

 bave seen one or two of that size. Gudgeon bite best in 

 clear water and warm weather in moderately rapid streams, 

 where the water ranges from two to four or five feet in 

 depth. In order to attract them it is necessary to rake 

 up the gravel so as to cause a thick water. The gudgeon 

 immediately flock to the spot to feed upon the small 

 insects and worms which are thus exposed. For this 

 purpose a heavy iron rake with a long handle is used. 

 The angler then fishes over the raked spot, his bait just 

 tripping over the bottom. A light cork float and a 

 No. 10 hook are advisable. The gudgeon feeds upon gen- 

 tles, or any small grubs, and worms ; but nothing can 

 compare in point of attraction to a small fragment of red 

 worm, or, as it is called on the Trent, the cockspur. This 

 they keep on biting at until hardly a scrap is left, and 

 often ten or a dozen fish may be taken with the same 

 worm. So bold is the bite that the float plumps down 



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