CHAPTER II. 



THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF FISH. 



THE BARBEL, CARP, TENCH, BREAM, ROACH, 

 DACE, GUDGEON, CHUB, EEL, POPE OR RUFFE. 



THE BARBEL (Barbus Vulgaris) is a gregarious 

 fish. It spawns in May and the beginning of 

 June, and is found in the sluggish parts of slow- 

 running streams. It not unfrequently attains a 

 weight of 10 or 12 Ibs., and specimens are occasionally 

 taken measuring 3 feet in length. Its fins, especially 

 the pectoral, are exceptionally large, and by their 

 aid it can breast the most powerful currents, and is, 

 moreover, capable of affording good sport to the 

 angler, owing to its excessive pertinacity of life and 

 strength. The Thames and Trent are the best rivers 

 for this fish. It is rather local in this country, but is 

 occasionally found abundant in the waters of low- 

 lying counties. Large barbel are most prevalent 

 about Shepperton, Walton, and Weybridge upon 

 the Thames, where they have been taken scaling 

 15 or 1 6 Ibs. or more. They abound in the Trent for 

 many miles about and below Nottingham. During 

 the hot months, after spawning (which operation is 

 effected amongst weeds, roots, etc., around which 

 substances they entwine the ova in a rope-like form) 



