204 THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 



the peculiar bright crimson-yellowish colour of the iris. 

 They are said to be more prolific than the roach. 



Ruffe, The, or Pope (Gymnocephalus cermia).\ 

 little fish found in a few of the rivers of England. It some- 

 what resembles the perch : in form more slender, rarely 

 exceeding the length of six inches. The teeth are small 

 and disposed in rows ; the colour of the back and sides a 

 dusky olive green, dotted with black spots ; the belly 

 yellow ; dorsal fin partly spinous and partly soft; and the 

 body is covered with rough, closely-built scales. Spawns 

 in April, and is gregarious. Ruffe fishing is somewhat 

 similar to perch fishing. The best lure is a small, well- 

 scoured, red worm, baited on a No. 6 round bend or 

 Limerick hook, with a quill float attached. The bait should 

 touch the bottom. Strike at once, the moment the bite is 

 felt. These fish bite greedily, nearly always pouching 

 the bait, so that the disgorger is in constant requisition 

 or the hook cut out with the knife. Ruffe love quiet, 

 deep pools with muddy bottoms, where the stream runs 

 slowly. They are also to be found in canals and ponds, 

 give fair sport to the young angler, and when in the taking 

 humour can be angled for with very coarse tackle. They 

 form suitable live baits for pike fishing, their colour being 

 peculiarly attractive. 



Salmon (Salmo saJar] is by far the most important of 

 all the fresh water fishes, both as to sport and commercial 

 value. It possesses an exceedingly handsome shape. The 

 head is small ; mouth well furnished \vith teeth ; the lateral 

 line is almost straight ; the back and belly of nearly equal 

 convexity ; and scales small. The colour of the back when 

 in season is purplish black, changing to silver grey on the 

 sides and white on the belly. The male fish is furnished 



