THE BLEAK. 31 



her at an angle to the stream, in order to give a 

 freer run of water through the well. 



Bleak are apparently very easily disturbed by 

 noise. I often take long walks in search of Thames 

 trout with my old fox-terrier for company. If I 

 notice a shoal of bleak I stop and watch them for 

 half-an-hour or so, to see if a trout shows himself 

 amongst them. Waiting at any particular spot 

 soon exhausts the old dog's patience, and he gives 

 a sharp bark to intimate that there are such 

 animals as rats to be found if I will only proceed 

 on our ramble. It is then common to see each 

 bleak " start " at the sharp sound, and the shoal 

 immediately drops below the surface, swimming 

 deeper for a minute or two. Their sudden fright 

 is caused by the sound, without doubt, as I keep 

 out of sight of the fish, well away from the edge of 

 the water. 



