

GREAT BRITAIN. 323 



ey are out of season. They are often netted along with 

 .Imon and shad, but are usually obtained in weels laid at 

 .e bottom of the river, while they are mostly fished for 



night. Those taken in wicker traps are considered more 

 duable than such as are captured in nets, as they do not 

 >11 themselves about so much, and consequently are less 

 -uised. On warm, sunny days, a person may be punted 

 ;ry quietly to over where these fishes are nesting, when 

 icy may be easily gaffed or speared. 



Breeding. At each breeding-place they are generally 

 >en in pairs, commencing about the month of May; and they 

 >rm a furrow at the bed of the river for the reception of 

 le ova, for which purpose they remove any stones which 

 lay be in their way, and this is effected by their attaching 

 icmselves to it by means of their suctorial mouth. 

 'ennant says that one fish weighing 3 Ib. was taken in the 

 )sk adhering to a stone of 12 Ib. weight suspended at its 

 iouth, and from which it was forced with no small pains. 

 Breeding over, they rapidly go out of condition and descend 

 D the sea. 



As food. Lampreys have been held in very different 

 stimation at various periods of our history. Henry I. is 

 aid to have died due to having made too plentiful a meal 

 >n potted lampreys ; Henry IV. granted protection to such 

 hips as brought over lampreys for the table of his consort, 

 vhile his successor issued a warrant to William of Nantes 

 o supply him and his army with lampreys whensoever they 

 >hould happen to march. 



The Earl of Chester sent a single lamprey to King John, 

 .vho in return sent him a good palfrey. The city of Glou- 

 cester formerly presented the reigning sovereign with a 

 dish of lampreys annually, and a lamprey pie to the Prince 

 Wales. 



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