138 THE ANGLER-NATURALIST. 



In its distribution the Carp-Bream is an inhabitant of 

 all the central districts of Europe^ as well as those north- 

 ward to St. Petersburg, Finland, and Scandinavia. Some of 

 the lakes of Ireland also produce it in large quantities. In 

 England it is found in many cormties, appearing to thrive 

 best in large open sheets of water, and in slow rivers where 

 the stream occasionally widens out into broads or deeps. 

 Of the rivers near the metropolis which breed this fish, 

 perhaps the Mole and the Medway are the most noted. 

 They are also very numerous in the Thames at Weybridge 

 just below its junction with the Wey, and in the latter 

 river higher up towards Wisley are occasionally caught of 

 very large size. I recently examined a specimen weigh- 

 ing upwards of 5 lbs. taken thence; the scales of this 

 fish were rough and almost file-like, from a small whitish 

 tubercle which is a periodical production common to the 

 species, as well as to several others of the Carp family, 

 at the spawning-time. 



Large " takes " of Bream are occasionally made in the 

 Weybridge Deep above referred to, the method of angling 

 found most successful being the " Nottingham fishing " 

 alluded to under the notice of the Barbel, the baits and 

 ground-baits for which are also those most killing in 

 Bream-fishing. The fish are gregarious, and their food 

 consists of worms, slugs, aquatic insects, and vegetable 

 substances : they spawn in May. 



Characteristics of the common Bream. — Throat-teetli cylindrical, 

 with smooth crowns adapted for bruising, placed in single rows, fiye 



