32 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 



sense is credited in the "Piscatory Eulogies," where "we 

 find the following: 



" Say, canst thou tell how worms of moisture breed, 

 Or pike are gendered of the pickrel weed ? 

 How carp without the parent seed renew, 

 Or slimy eeis are form'd of genial dew ?" 



To indulge in day-dreams about the abnormal instincts 

 and habits of animalia, would appear to be characteristic 

 of the speculative naturalist of past ages, vague theories 

 being treated as solid facts, and so set forth for the ac- 

 ceptance of credulous readers. 



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 ten or twelve pounds, 

 and specimens are occasionally taken measuring three 

 feet in length. Its fins, especially the pectoral, are ex- 

 ceptionally large, and by their aid it can breast the 

 most powerful currents, and is, moreover, capable of af- 

 fording 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 fifteen or 



* The barbel is not a native of our waters. 



