72 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER* 



kles, which rise to a considerable height, and 

 are his chief defence against other watery 

 monsters ; his skin is covered over with 

 thick, hard, dry scales, which form a kind 

 of coat of mail, and his body is thick and 

 broad : these fish are taken, where they run 

 large, from ten to sixteeji inches in length ; 

 they are very ravenous, and bold feeders, 

 devouring even their own kind, but are 

 very wiiolesome and good eating. 



In the early part of the season they are 

 chiefly to be found in gentle streams, that 

 are not very deep, and where there are 

 weeds and other lurking-places ; under hol- 

 low banks, in gravelly bottoms, and at the 

 turning of eddies ; at the end of summer, 

 and in autumn, they frequent deeper parts 

 of the river, generally choosing deep and 

 wide holes, if they can find them, by bridges, 

 or afcy wooden piles, or near the roots of 

 trees. 



They spawn the latter end of February, 



