THE FOURTH DAY. 



(Continued.) 



CHAPTER XV. 



OBSERVATIONS OF THE GUDGEON, THE RUFFE, AND THE BLEAK, AND 

 HOW TO FISH FOR THEM. 



Pise. The G-udgeon is reputed a fish of excellent taste 



The Gudgeon. 



and to be very wholesome : he is of a fine shape, of a silver 

 colour, and beautified with black spots both on his body 

 and tail. 1 He breeds two or three times in the year, and 

 always in summer. He is commended for a fish of excellent 

 nourishment ; 3 the Germans call him groundling, by reason 



1 The average size of the gudgeon is from six to eight inches, and its 

 weight from two to three ounces. But Pennant records one taken at 

 Uxbridge which weighed half a pound. ED. 



2 Many persons think the gudgeon as good a fish as the smelt. Few fish 

 bite more eagerly than gudgeons, and this, perhaps, is the reason why so 

 many persons may be seen patiently seated in punts from morning to night, 

 on the river Thames, employed in catching these fresh-water smelts. They 

 may be fished for with gentles and small worms, but the most killing bait 

 is the blood- worm, two on a hook. ED. 



