CHAPTEB XI 



THE GUDGEON, THE DACE, AND THE EEL 



THE QtJDGEON 



This is a very handsome, active, and well-shaped little 

 fish ; most delicious in flavour, when properly cooked, 

 and deservedly considered very recherche by most 

 Continental gastronomers. 



This fish is to be found in almost all the rivers of 

 England, and, indeed, of Europe. He prefers running 

 waters and rapid curling streams, which flow over a 

 pebbly and sandy bottom, although he will live and 

 thrive in lakes and ponds through which a gentle draw 

 of water continually passes. 



The gudgeon is supposed to spawn about the month 

 of May. "Walton maintains that they breed two or 

 three times a year. This does not appear to be very 

 clearly established, but the prodigious rate at which 

 these fish increase would seem to lend a certain degree 

 of probability to the notion. A French writer says : 

 " They pass their winter in the lakes and large ponds, 

 and in the spring re-mount the rivers, where they deposit 

 their spawn on pebbles and stones. This operation is 

 with the gudgeon a very laborious affair, and the fish is 

 frequently occupied an entire month in the difficult 

 process. Towards the autumn the gudgeons gain the 

 lakes." This does not appear to be the general opinion, 

 neither do we acquiesce in it ; but other grave angling 

 authorities seem to entertain some such notions as to 

 the migratory habits of this fish, although their language 

 is, for the most part, somewhat vague and uncertain. 



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