37 



Gudgeon. 



The gudgeon spawns twice or three times in the 

 course of the year, and is in season from March to 

 October. In the summer it delights in shallow 

 streams, the bottoms of which are sandy and gra- 

 velly. They will frequently bite during the whole 

 of the day from an hour after sun-rise till within an 

 hour of sun-set, without any particular considera- 

 tion as to the state of the weather. In autumn, 

 when the weeds begin to rot, they retire to the 

 deep waters. 



The customary method of angling for gudgeon 

 is to rake up the sand or gravel, and by that means 

 render the water thick and foul, which will make 

 them bite the faster. Or another plan may be 

 adopted, of throwing dried earth or dust into the 

 river; but if the water be made thick with rain, they 

 will not bite. They will take gentles, or the cow- 

 dung worm ; but the small red-worm is the most 

 killing bait for them. The gudgeon is not a shy 

 fish; on the contrary, if they be driven from their 

 customary places of resort, they will immediately 

 return to them. 



A single hair-line, a fine taper rod, a float, and a 

 small hook, must be used; and the bait must drag 

 upon the ground. 



In fishing for gudgeons a rake is indispensable, 

 wildi which the bottom of the river must be raked 

 every quarter of an hour, and the fish will flock to 

 the place in shoals. 



The gudgeon is a fish in some request, both for 

 its flavour and the sport it affords to the inexpe- 

 rienced angler. It is very simple, and is allured 

 by almost any kind of bait; but it will never rise 

 at the fly. 



