CHAPTEK XII 



THE CHAR, BLEAK, LAMPREY, LOACH, MINNOW, 

 RUFFE, ETC. 



These are the small fry of tlie angler, and not worth 

 much notice. The char is confined to lakes in the 

 north of England, Scotland, and to som.e parts of 

 Wales. It is not very familiar to anglers generally. 

 It is a handsome fish, spotted like a trout, and attains a 

 very respectable size, say fifteen or sixteen iuches in 

 length. The habits and natural history of the fish are 

 but imperfectly known. Epicures attach a high value 

 to the fish, and " potted char " is constantly advertised 

 as a standard delicacy. How it is made is another 

 matter ; but as few things in England can escape 

 adulteration, most probably the char undergoes the 

 profitable process. 



THE BLEAK 



This little fish abounds in nearly all the rivers and 

 fresh waters in Europe. It is found in prodigious 

 quantities in the Caspian Sea, from whence, according 

 to some authors, they were originally introduced to other 

 parts of the world. 



This fish is very handsome and active, and when first 

 taken out of the water shines like a bar of silver. His 

 sparkling scales are used by artists to give to mock 

 pearls the beauty and brilliancy of those of the East. 



The bleak spawn in May or June, and multiply 

 rapidly. In fine weather they are constantly playing 

 on the surface of the water, but they prefer rushing and 



