THE TENCH. '137 



Supposed properties of its slime. 



For when by wounds distrcst, or sore disease, 

 He courts the salutary fish for ease ; 

 Close to his scales the kind physician glides, 

 And sweats a healing balsam iiom his sides." 



This incident has been the origin of many cu- 

 rious stories: however, this self-denial of the pike 

 may be attributed to a more natural cause ; the 

 tench are so fond of mud as to be constantly at 

 the bottom of the water, where probably they 

 ^re secure fiom the voracious attacks of their 

 neighbour. 



These fish are sometimes found in waters where 

 the mud is excessively fetid, and the weeds so 

 tbick that a hand-net can scarcely be thrust 

 down. In these situations they grow to a large 

 size, and their exterior becomes completely ting- 

 ed by the mud. Their flavour from this, if 

 cooked immediately on being taken out, is often 

 very unpleasant ; but, if they are transferred 

 into clear water, they soon recover from, the ob- 

 noxious taint. 



A Tench was taken at Thornville Royal, in 

 Yorkshire, in 1802, of such an enormous size, 

 and so singular in its shape, as to be accounted 

 rather a lusus natitra thaa a regular product. A 

 piece of water which had been ordered to be 

 filled up, and into which wood and rubbish had 

 been thrown for some years, was directed to be 

 cleared out. So little water remained, and in 

 such quantity were the weeds and mud, that it 

 was expected no fish would be found except 



VOL. v NO. 33. s 



