SOME OF THE MORE UNCOMMON FISHES 387 



GUDGEON 



Have grown rare in the districts best known to me, though 

 in some places they used to be common 1 enough. Their 

 delight is to bask in a sandy shallow on a hot summer's 

 day. 



MILLER'S THUMBS 



Occur, but are not common. They get them in the smelt 

 nets at the locks. 



THE RUFFE, 



Or " pout," as the Broadsmen familiarly call him, is common 

 in some of the shoals, and in some of the broads. Anglers 

 do not like him, for they say, " When he come you may as 

 well pull up and go," and they do. Yet he is good eating, 

 though small, eight inches being the longest " pout " I have 

 seen. Pouts will take a worm on a small hook. They 

 prefer a stream and a hard, clear bottom, and, as the Broads- 

 men say, " they make a face at you when you catch them." 



SEA-LAMPERNS 



Work up some of the rivers in the autumn, six or seven 

 weeks before Christmas. There are a couple of good 

 specimens caught at Geldeston Lock, now in the keeper's 

 possession ; they weighed two pounds and a quarter each 

 in the flesh. 



"LAMPERS." 



The fresh- water lamprey can be seen in spring hanging to 

 the stones in the same locality. They are sometimes caught 

 in the eel-nets, and especially in snowy water. They have 

 been found with spawn in them on the Waveney. 



