BLEAK. 369 



could not be exceeded ; and it gave me much pleasure to 

 see them, on a still summer's evening, dart at every little 

 fly that settled on the water near them, appearing always 

 restless, and yet always happy." 



This fish is frequently found to have the intestines partly 

 occupied by a species of tapeworm. I have taken them 

 out of much greater length than that of the whole fish 

 itself; and the name of Mad-Bleak has been bestowed upon 

 those fish that are seen occasionally swimming in an agitated 

 uneasy manner on the surface of the water ; an unnatural 

 action, not observed to occur in other species, and referred to 

 the annoyance or pain supposed to be produced by these 

 internal disturbers. 



On the inner surface of the scales of Roach, Dace, Bleak, 

 Whitebait, and other fishes, is found a silvery pigment, 

 which gives the lustre these scales possess. Advantage has 

 been taken of the colouring matter thus afforded to imitate 

 artificially the Oriental pearl. When this practice was most 

 in fashion, the manufactured ornaments bore the name of 

 patent pearl, and the use was universal in the bead-trade 

 for necklaces, eardrops, &c. At present, it seems confined 

 to ornaments attached to combs, or small beads arranged with 

 flowers for head-dresses. So great was the demand formerly 

 at particular times, that the price of a quart measure of fish- 

 scales has varied from one guinea to five. The Thames 

 fishermen gave themselves no trouble beyond taking off the 

 side scales, throwing the fish into the river again ; and it 

 was the custom for hawkers regularly before selling any 

 white-fish, as they were called, to supply the beadmakers 

 with the scales. 



The method of obtaining and using the colouring matter 

 was, first carrying off the slime and dirt from the scales by 

 a run of water ; then soaking them for a time, the pigment 



VOL. i. 2 B 



