APPENDIX XV. 



PRACTICAL ESSAY. 



THE GUDGEON 



is a pretty little fish which noses along the gravel in thousands on 

 those gravelly shallows which it affects. It is excellent fun fishing 

 for it in the summer. The hook should be small, and just fitted, 

 like with a glove, with a piece of red worm or brandling there 

 must be none left to dangle. A small quill float will be necessary, 

 and the bait should just touch the bottom as it drifts down stream. 

 Strike at the least dip. Gudgeon are kept in one spot by raking 

 the bottom with a heavy rake ; this stirs up the gravel, and the 

 gudgeon crowd to seek for water-insects, &c. 



THE RUFF 



is something like a cross between the perch and the gudgeon, 

 having the spiny fins and general appearance of the former, and 

 the habits of the latter. It is generally caught while gudgeon fish- 



or 

 >' 



THE BLEAK 



is a slender, active, brilliant little fish, and may be caught, as Walton 

 says, with gentles, or by fly-fishing with very small dark flies. 



