64 BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 
their possessor in obtaining its food in its dark 
retreats. All anglers must have noticed that 
the barbel is most active at morning and evening, 
and it is at these times that the best takes are 
had. At dusk they issue forth and usually plant 
themselves where their retreat is narrowed, and 
there wait for anything that is washed down. 
When light comes, they make back to their dark 
recess, and both feed less, and are more inactive 
than during the night. In winter, barbel stay 
almost wholly in their dark retreats, and get into 
very low condition. Their ordinary food consists 
of worms, the fry of coarse fish, and minute forms 
of aquatic life generally. An enormous number 
of eggs are deposited in May and June, and these 
are jealously guarded by the parents. After the 
spawn is thrown down, both male and female 
work assiduously in covering it with sand ; this is 
done for protective reasons, and as the work is 
progressing, the spawners drive away every fish 
that dares to venture near. The eggs are hatched 
in about a fortnight, and if the weather be warm, 
the fry are soon able to shift for themselves. 
The barbel sometimes attains to ten pounds in 
weight, and one of fifteen pounds is known to 
have been taken. The barbules on the head of 
the fish detract somewhat from its personal ap- 
pearance, but it is, withal, fairly handsome. The 
