GUDGEON AND BLEAK. . 325 



roach, and bream are all more or less flattened of compressed 

 at the sides, but then they are also broad — i.e., deep from the 

 back to the belly— and in this particular show a striking contrast 

 to the bleak, which is almost sprat-like in appearance. 



The bleak is so common throughout England and in post 

 rivers producing roach and dace, that a detailed description of 

 its appearance would be superfluous. It is a very playful and 

 sportive fish, and on a summer's evening may be seen perpetu- 

 ally darting about and leaping at the midges which would fain 

 flit out their three hours' existence over their native stream. 

 Whipping for bleak used to be a favourite amusement with 

 our ancestors, and even with the classical anglers of ancient 

 times : — 



Quis non et virides vulgi solatia Tineas 



Norit, et Alburnos prjed.am puerilibus hamis ? 



By the young Etonians of the present day, however, bleak- 

 catching is voted infra dig., and the little fish is seldom molested 

 unless for the purpose of bait. 



Its name, bleak, which has reference to its shining white 

 scales, is taken from a northern word signifying to bleach or 

 whiten — blik (Danish), Mick (Swedish and German), 'glance,' 

 ' glimmer.' 



Its brilliant scalure appeared, some years ago, not unlikely 

 to lead to its total extinction. A silvery pigment is found 

 on the under surface of the scales from which they derive their 

 metallic lustre ; and this colouring matter was universally used 

 in the bead trade for imparting a pearly tint to their wares. 



So great at one time was the demand, when the fashion of 

 wearing imitation pearls was at its height, that the price of a 

 quart measure of scales varied from one or two guineas to five. 

 At one factory alone, in Paris, 10,000 pearls were issued per 

 week ; and when it is considered that each pound of scales cost 

 the lives of 4,000 fish, and that this pound only produced 4 oz. of 

 pigment, some estimate of the destruction effected amongst the 

 bleak may be formed^ The Thames fishermen gave themselves 



