THE GUDGEON. 313 



takeable gudgeon, nor can I see that there is any reason 

 they should. We certainly want gudgeon under five 

 inches for perch-fishing, and as long as night-lines are 

 allowed for eels so long will small gudgeon be required 

 by the fisherman. I should hope, however, that before 

 long the night-line business will be discontinued alto- 

 gether. 



Gudgeon are found on the Continent, and abound in 

 many English rivers ; but they seem to thrive most in the 

 Trent, the Hampshire Avon, and the Thames, with its tribu- 

 tary the Colne, where they like the water and the geological 

 constitution of the bottom. They increase marvellously, 

 spawning, it is said, no less than three times in the year ; 

 and it is a curious fact in natural history that the females 

 outnumber the males by six to one, and thus enable 

 Gobio mas to play the Mormon in moderation. I may 

 here mention, by the way, that it is a mistake to suppose 

 that gudgeon will not live except in running water. I 

 put some dozens in a pond without any stream running 

 through it about fifteen years ago, and they not only 

 lived, but multiplied there, notwithstanding the clayey 

 bottom and the presence of several jack in the water. 



And now as to the question " how, where, and when " 

 to fish for gudgeon. This is not answered by " anyhow, 

 anywhere, and any- when." A piscatory poet, who wrote 

 nearly 150 years ago, says, in reference to gudgeon- 

 fishing, — 



" Few lessons will the angler's use supply, 

 Where he's so ready of himself to die — " 



The "he" being the gudgeon. Still, as for other more 

 notable fish, there is a proper season for gudgeon, proper 



