I90 THE TENCH, 



pools and pits than 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. 



They do not often exceed four or five pounds in 

 weight. Mr. Pennant, however, mentions one that 

 weighed ten pounds. — The Tench is in great re- 

 pute with us as a delicious and wholesome food ; 

 but in Guernsey it is considered bad fish, and in 

 contempt is called Schoemaker. 



It is singular enough that the slime of the Tench 

 is supposed to possess such healing properties 

 among the fish that, it is said, the Pike, on this ac- 

 count, never attempts to devour it, though he seizes 

 without exception on all the other species that he is 

 able to overcome. 



The Pike, fell tyrant of the liquid plain. 

 With ravenous waste devours his fellow train : 

 Yet, howsoe'er with raging famine pin'd, 

 The Tench he .spares, a medicinal kind ; 

 For when by wounds distrest, or sore diseax . 

 He courts the salutary fish for ease ; 

 Close to his scales the kind physician glides, 

 And sweats a healing balsam from his sides. 



This self-denial of the Pike may, however, be 

 attributed to a more natural cause : the Tench are 

 so fond of mud as to be constantly at the bottom of 

 the water, where probably they are secure from the 

 voracious attacks of their neighbour. 



Tench are sometimes found in waters where the 



