282 PROSE HALIEUTICS. 



portant fish yet waiting to be brought forward, our re- 

 marks on the Leucisci must e'en be confined to the very 

 smallest, but, as we shall see, not by any means the least 

 interesting of the group : the 



Leucisctjs Albuknus, or Bleak. 



This bleak, or ' fresh water sprat,' says Walton, 'is ever 

 in motion, and therefore has been called by some the 

 river swallow; his back is of a pleasant, sad, sea- water 

 green, his belly white and shining like the mountain 

 snow/ He reports him also to be ' excellent meat, and ia 

 best season in August.' The name bleak, from blicken, 



But as he jumped, to reach a dish 



To put his fishes in, 

 A large meat-hook that hung close by 



Did catch him by the chin. 



The maids came running, frighted much 



To see him hanging there ; 

 And soon they took him from the hook, 



And set him iu a chair. 



The surgeon came and stopp'd the blood, 

 . And up he bound his head, 

 And then they carried biTn upstairs 

 And laid him on his bed. 



Conviction darted on his mind. 



As groaning there he lay. 

 And with compunction then he thought 



About his cruel play. 



And oh, said he, poor little fish. 

 What tortures they have borne. 



While I, weU pleased, have stood to see 

 Their tender bodies torn ! 



And now I feel how great the smart. 



And terrible the pain. 

 As long as I can hook myself 



I'U hook no fish again. 



