THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 163 



[A FEW REMAEKS ox THE BIIEAM. Walton has written more sen- 

 sibly as a naturalist, and more artistically as an artist, on the bream, 

 than on any other fish hitherto treated of by him. He seems to have a 

 liking for this worthless fish ; thinks it not only handsome, but courageous 

 and well-flavoured. It is neither ; and very few modern anglers prize 

 it either as an edible, or as a fish affording much sport. It is called by 

 naturalists Cyprinus Brama. It is remarkable for the sniallness of its 

 dorsal fin, and the largeness of its anal one there being no fewer than 

 twenty-seven rays in the latter. Its tail is exceedingly forked, and it 

 has a forked, rather large fin between the dorsal fin and tail. It is 

 exceedingly hog-backed, and very deep and thin in the body. It has a 

 very small head, and very prominent eyes. It affects deep, still waters, 

 with soft half muddy, half clayey bottoms. It is in good season in 

 spring, and worms then are the best baits for it. Daniel points out two 

 good modes of fishing with them. The first is, "after plumbing the 

 depth, put one or more shot a foot below the float, to balance it, which 

 is a way to take the shyest fish ; the bait a large red worm, which must 

 be laid in, and let sink very gradually to the ground-bait. When the 

 fish bites, strike gently that very instant." The second method is, 

 employing " the running line, with a bullet and hole through it, and a 

 small shot to hinder the bullet falling on the hook ; let this run on the 

 bottom with the current into holes, and equally as for bream it will be 

 found to answer for all other fish that bite at the bottom." The last 

 species of tackle corresponds with the modern ledger-line, of which I 

 shall have to speak fully when I come to Chap. XIV., which treats of 

 the barbel. An extract from Elaine, accompanied by an original sentence 

 or two, will complete the measure of information required to enable any 

 one to angle successfully for the bretim. That elaborate and able 

 sporting writer says, " Bream will likewise take caddis-bobs and grubs, 

 and all other usual Iarva3. In the large rivers of the midland counties, 

 as well as in the great pieces of water called broads, meres, fleets, &c., 

 the salmon-roe is an excellent summer bait, and will be seldom refused 

 by bream : they will likewise take natural flies; as the house-fly, flesh-fly, 

 stone-fly, during the day ; and in the evening they seldom refuse the 

 various moths. In dipping with these baits, the utmost possible caution 

 must be observed by the angler to keep himself concealed; for the 

 moment bream discover any one near, they sink to the bottom imme- 

 diately ; though, as they very soon appear again, the mischief may 



usually be repaired The bream is not always a quick biter, 



and when it is, its small mouth sometimes produces a kind of suction, 

 particularly if the bait be a full-sized one : it is, therefore, necessary to 

 strike with some caution, and the proper degree of it will be taught by 

 a few successful, and a few unsuccessful bites." I have frequently 

 caught bream with the artificial fly. They will take brown palmers, 

 the fly called " the governor," and in the evening yellow and white artificial 

 moths. ED.] 



