THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 233 



rule, but in some waters as late as August. The flesh of 

 the tench is soft and tasteless, but if kept in clear ponds 

 and well fed it is not to be despised for the table. The 

 average weight is about five pounds, but instances have 

 occurred where it has attained the weight of fifteen pounds 

 and a length of three feet. Tench are supposed to live tor 

 a century at least. Daniels, in "Rural Sports," makes 

 mention of a tench, caught at Thornville House, in York- 

 shire, two feet three inches long and upwards of eleven 

 pounds in weight, and gives an excellent illustration of 

 the fish. 



Tench Fishing is similar to carp fishing. The 

 tench is very capricious in its feeding, and although every 

 known lure and bait may be put before it, yet it will refuse 

 them in toto, and not give a sign to show that such a fish 

 is in the pond, although it may be plentifully stocked. 

 The tackle should be strong but moderately fine, fur- 

 nished with a cork float and a No. 4 or 6 hook ; better 

 to have tw r o hooks, one placed about six inches above the 

 terminal one. The best baits are worms, unscoured, 

 taken from an old tan pit. A few shot may be placed 

 above the upper hook and the bait allowed to sink to the 

 bottom, when it should be drawn quietly towards the 

 surface. The best time for tench angling is in the evening, 

 up till dark. The place or swim should be ground baited 

 with broken worms a day or two before angling in it. 

 They sometimes nibble a good deal before actually seizing 

 the bait. When this happens, draw the bait a few 

 inches away from them, and, fearful lest they will lose it 

 altogether, they sometimes make a dash at it and are fast. 

 Their mouths being tough, there is not much danger of 

 losing them unless the line gets entangled in a bank of 



