294 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



with them. The largest of these tench did not exceed, how- 

 ever, one pound in weight, and as soon as the sun had fairly 

 risen they stopoed biting. Indeed, whatever the chance may 

 be of catching either carp or tench, it is in the very early morn- 

 ing hours that it is usually to be found, and after about 7 or 

 half-past arrives, the carp and tench fisherman may as well put 

 up his rods and go home to breakfast. 



Carp and tench very commonly inhabit the same waters, 

 both stagnant and running, and should be fished for in pre- 

 cisely the same manner. Although these fish are frequently 

 found in rivers, as before observed, they are very seldom caught 

 there, and when they are, in my experience it is usually when 

 they are not being fished for. Indeed, fishing for either of 

 these species is at the best very uncertain work, and, in the case 

 of rivers, generally wholly unprofitable. In weight the tench 

 does not equal its congener, seldom exceeding 5 or 6 lbs., 

 although occasionally heavier specimens have been taken. 



The largest on record weighed somewhat over 11 lbs., and 

 was taken from a clay-hole which had been scooped out for 

 brick-making. This sort of pit often abounds with tench and a 

 basketful has been known to be taken out of one not wider than 

 a boy could jump over, and where the weeds were so thick as 

 to be almost solid. In fact, like the carp, the tench appears to 

 prefer foul and weedy to clear waters. Daniel, in his ' Rural 

 Sports,'" gives an account of the capture of the tench weighing 

 1 1 lbs. above referred to : — 



A piece of water which had been ordered to be filled up, and 

 into which wood and rubbish had been thrown for years, was 

 directed to be cleaned out. Labourers were accordingly employed ; 

 and, almost choked up by weeds and mud, so little water remained 

 that no person expected to see any fish, except a few eels ; yet 

 nearly two hundred brace of tench of all sizes, and as many perch 

 were found. After the pond was thought to be quite free, under 

 some roots there seemed to be som^e animal who was conjectured 

 to be an otter ; the place was surrounded, and on opening an 

 entrance amongst the roots a tench was found of most singular 

 form, having literally assumed the shape of the hole in which he 



