FISHES. 345 



48. The Cobitis or Loach. The body oblong ; almost equally 

 broad throughout ; the head small, a little elongated ; the eyes 

 in the hinder part of the head ; the fin covering the gills from 

 four to six rays : the covers of the gills closed below. 



over it ; or immerse themselves so deep in the mud, as to suffer tlie net to 

 pass over without touching them. They are also very shy of taking- a bait ; 

 but, during spawning-tirae, so intent are they on the business of depositing 

 their ova, that they will suffer themselves to be handled by any one who at- 

 tempts it. They breed three or four times in the year, but their first spawn, 

 ing is in the beginning of May. Carp are found in the slow rivers and stag- : 

 nant waters of Europe and Persia ; and here principally in deep holes, un- ; 

 der the roots of trees, hollow banks, or great beds of flags, &c. They do not 

 often exceed four feet in length, and twenty pounds in weight ; but Joviiis 

 mentions some caught in the Lago de Como, in Italy, that weighed two 

 hundred pounds each, and others have been taken in the Dneister five feet 

 iu length. 



The Tench. — This, according to Artedi, is a species of the carp, and is 

 thick and bulky in proportion to its length. The colour of the back is 

 dusky ; the dorsal .ind ventral fins of the same colour ; the head, sides, and 

 belly, are of a greenish c.ijt, most beautifully mixed with gold, which is in 

 its greatest splendour when the fish is in highest season. They love still 

 waters, and are rarely found in rivers; they are very foolish, and easily 

 caught. 



This is one of those fish that prefer foul and weedy waters ; and its haunts 

 in rivers are chiefly amongst weeds, and in places well shaded with rushes. 

 These fish thrive best in standing waters, where they lie under weeds near 

 sluices and pond-heads. They are miich more numerous in pools and pits 

 tlian in rivers ; but those taken in the latter are far preferable for the table. 

 They begin to spawn in June, and may be found spawning in some waters 

 till September. The best season is from that time till the end of May. 



These fish do not often exceed four or five pounds in weight. Mr Pennant, 

 however, mentions one that weighed ten pounds. Tench are in great reputt. 

 with us as delicious and wholesome food ; but in Guernsey they are con. 

 Bidered bad fi.sh, and in contempt called shoemaker. Gessner even say.s, 

 that it is insipid and unwholesome. Ijke the barbel, it was unnoticed by 

 early writers ; and Ausonius, by whom it was first mentioned, treats it with 

 that disrespect which evinces the capriciousness of taste. 



These fish are sometimes found in waters where the mud is excessively 

 fetid, and the weeds so thick that a hand.net can hardly be thrust down. 

 In these situations they grow to a large size, and their exterior becomes 

 completely tinged by the mud. Their flavour from this, if cooked iinnie. 

 diately on being taken out, is often very unplea-sant ; but if they are trans. 

 ferred into dear water, they soon recover from the obnoxious taint. A 

 tench was taken at Thornville-Royal in Yorkshire, in 180a, of such enor- 

 mous size, luid so singular in its shape, as rather to be accounted a histu 

 naturtr than a regular product. A piece of water which had been ordered 

 to be filled up, and into which wood and rubbi.-h had been thrown for somim 

 years, was directed to he cleared out. So little w;iter remuiiied, and m siicli 

 quantity were the weeds and mud, tliat it was expected no fish would l.o 



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