FRESH-WATER FISHES 201 



darker and mottled with dark green, yellow, and 

 white. Round his eye the ring is yellow. 



So much for his points : now for his habits. 

 Where the waters rush from the floodgates of a mill 

 or weir, forming a swirling eddy at the side, you will 

 find him. At the mill tail, where it is fringed with 

 flags and rushes and shaded by great alder-trees, he 

 is certain to be caught if you feel inclined for a spin. 

 In deep and sluggish waters, through which the 

 barges creep along, the water looking like thin pea- 

 soup, he will be, not far from the bank. He is 

 generally of a good size there. A large mill-pond 

 suits him, if it is supplied from a clear stream, and 

 better still if a brook runs through it. The masses 

 of beautiful green water weed always found in such 

 ponds afford him a hiding-place and a shelter. The 

 best and handsomest fish I have ever caught came 

 from such a pond. Good food, with a luxuriant 

 growth of weed, makes a greater difference in the 

 colour and flavour of the fish than the unlearned in 

 such matters would credit. 



I remember one lake well which was supplied 

 with water from a moorland trout stream. Rustic 

 tradition said that pike of giant size ' lived in that 

 J ere bit o' water, but they can't ketch one on 'em. 

 Keeper told we as how the Squire wud give a gold 



