126 ANECDOTES OF FISHES 



Donovan says, that the bleak is equally abun- 

 dant in most of the rivers of the North of Europe. 

 Its form is elegant, its colours are brilliant, and 

 its flesh is in some esteem. 



Gmelin speaks of this fish being taken formerly 

 from four to ten inches in length, in the Thames, 

 about Battersea. 



Mad Bleaks. Mr. Pennant remarks, that 

 bleaks are troubled with a species of hair-worm, 

 and in certain seasons appear to be in great 

 agonies, tumbling about in the water; yet they 

 sometimes recover. Mr. Daniel took many 

 bleaks, in Perry dock, which were puffed up and 

 swelled out, and appeared big with spawn ; but, 

 upon making an incision, a tape-worm was 

 drawn out from several of them, which was sixteen 

 inches long. 



Method of making brilliant artificial Pearls 

 from the Scales of Bleak. Take off, with much 

 care, the scales of bleak, and put them into a 

 basin of clear water ; rub them together : repeat 

 this operation in several waters, until there is no 

 coloured substance attached to the scales : the sil- 

 ver matter drops to the bottom of the basin, and 

 the redundant water must be taken off with the 

 greatest care ; the residue is a bright silver liquid, 

 which is termed oriental essence. This being 



