296 THE GOLD FISH'. 



the latter end of May, and for three weeks after 

 are unwholesome. They begin to recover in July, 

 but it is Michaelmas before they are eatable. They 

 are said to be best in February or March. — The roe is 

 green, but boils red, and is peculiarly good. — These 

 fish differ greatly in goodness, according to the rivers 

 in which they are caught. None are good that are 

 kept in ponds. 



Roach feed on aquatic plants and vermes. Their 

 usual weight is from half a pound to two pounds. 

 Some, however, have been known to weigh as much 

 as five pounds. 



The baits used in catching Roach are various 

 kinds of worms, flies, and pastes. The time for 

 angling is, in mild cloudy weather, all the day : in 

 hot weather only in the mornings and evenings j and 

 >n cold weather, during the middle of the day *. 



THE GOLD FISHf. 



These extremely elegant fish are natives of 

 China ; and the most beautiful kinds are caught in 

 a small lake in the province of Che-kyang, at the 

 foot of a mountain called Isyen-king. They were 

 first introduced into England about the year 169 1, 

 but were not generally known till near thirty years 

 afterwards. 



In China they are kept in ponds, or large porce- 

 lain vessels, by almost every person of distinction. 



* Daniel. Ii. 240.— —Penh. Brit. Zool. iii. 365. 

 t Synonyms.— —Cyprinus auratus, Linn. — Kin-yu, in. China,— >• 

 Gold Fish. Venn. 



