THE TENCH. I9I 



mud is excessively fetid, and the weeds so thick that 

 a hand-net can scarcely be thrust down. In these 

 situations they grow to a large size, and their exte- 

 rior becomes completely tinged by the mud. Their 

 flavour from this, if cooked immediately on being 

 taken out, is often very unpleasant ; but, if they are 

 transferred into clear water, they soon recover from 

 the obnoxious taint. 



In Nov. 1 80 1, a Tench was taken at Thornville 

 Royal, in Yorkshire, of such an enormous size, and 

 so singular in its shape, as to be accounted rather a 

 lusus nature than a regular product. A piece of 

 water which had been ordered to be filled up, and 

 into which wood and rubbish had been thrown for 

 some years, was directed to be cleared out. So little 

 water remained, and in such quantity were the 

 weeds and mud, that it was expected no fish would 

 be found except perhaps a few eels ; but, greatly to 

 the surprise of fhe persons employed, nearly two 

 hundred brace of Tench, and as many of Perch 

 were discovered. After the pond was supposed to 

 be quite cleared, an animal was observed to be under 

 some roots, which was conjectured to be an Otter. 

 The place was surrounded, and, on making an open- 

 ing, a Tench was found of most singular form, hav- 

 ing literally taken the shape of the hole in which 

 he had of course been many years confined. His 

 length was two feet nine inches, his circumference 

 two feet three inches, and his weight near twelve 

 pounds. The colour was also singular, his belly 

 being tinged with vermillion. This extraordinary 

 fish, after having been examined by many gentle- 



