TH K LOACH, &C. / 7 



COBITES FLUriATItlS BARBATULA, 



The Loach or Locke ; this fish is very smail, 

 but eats very well, and is nourishing food for 

 sick persons. 



The loach is the first genus of abdominal 



fishes, or those which have the ventral fins behind 



the pectoral, that is, nearer the tail, as in the 



salmon. It never exceeds four inches in length. 



He is found in clear swift brooks and rivu- 

 lets, and his food is gravel. He is bearded like 

 the barbel, and freckled with black and white 

 spots. You may take him with a red-worm, at 

 ground ; he delights to be near the gravel, there- 

 fore is hardly ever seen on the top of the water ^ 



The smallest of hooks. 



GOB10 



The Bull-head, or Miller's-thumb; this fish,ou 

 account of its ugliness, is in some places called 

 the fresh-water devil; he has a broad head and a 

 large mouth, no teeth, but his lips are like a file, 

 witn which he nibbles at the bait. They spawn 

 in April, and are full of spawn most of the sum- 

 mer. Their haunts in summer are chiefly in 

 holes, or amongst stones in clear-water ; but in 

 winter they lie in the mud like the eel. The 

 worst of anglers may take this fish ; for if you 

 look above the water in a hot day, you may see 

 him sunning himself on a flat stone, put yoiu 

 hook upon it, baited with a small red- corm, and 

 he will take it directly. The taste of thisfbn, is 

 \ery good. 

 Hook ; No. 13. 



S 



