1082 Fishes. 



the capture of large pike, to have a large bait is of the first importance — a roach or 

 rud of nearly a pound is not too large ; from its size it is exempt from the attacks of 

 juvenile Jack. If small fish are used on a water where pike are abundant, the chan- 

 ces are that a small pike first meets a trimmer and either swallows or spoils the bait. 

 These minor Jack are very often swallowed in turn by a full-sized pike ; for a Jack of 

 half a pound or three quarters, is not to be regarded as a mere shift to be used if no- 

 thing else can be found, but is, if properly mounted as a bait upon a large hook, the 

 most tempting morsel which you can offer to a large pike. If, on the contrary, the lit- 

 tle Jack has himself swallowed the roach, and is afterwards bolted in his turn, then 

 comes the disappointment of the fisherman ; you reach the unwound trimmer — you 

 tow it in — a heavy weight replies to each pull — you draw on — you see the head of the 

 monster — and now he sees you ; slowly his head moves from side to side, as if he were 

 shaking it at the disagreeable dilemma you have placed him in, when, with an air of 

 sulky disappointment, he returns to you, from the ima penetralia of his stomach, the 

 Jack first taken, and the next thing you see is the surge caused by his tail, as, at full 

 liberty, he seeks the depths below." — p. 137. 



" The Tench, (Tinea vulgaris). Formerly the fishermen on the broads relied on 

 the bow-net, and occasionally the trammel or flew, for all their success with this fish ; 

 but a plan has arisen of late years, and is becoming more and more general, which 

 bids fair to supersede the use of these implements. " Tench catching," as it is justly 

 termed, originated with a family of the name of Hewitt, at Barton, all the members 

 of which were fishermen and gunners. One of them observing the sluggish nature of 

 this fish, attempted to take them with his hands, and often succeeded. The art has 

 spread, and the system is better understood, so that at this time there are in Norfolk 

 fishermen who, upon shallow waters — for in deep nothing can be done thus — prefer 

 their own hands, with a landing net to be used occasionally, to bow-nets or any other 

 engines. The day for this operation cannot be too calm or too hot. During the heats 

 of summer, but especially at the time of spawning, tench delight in lying near the sur- 

 face of the water amongst beds of weeds ; in such situations they are found in parties, 

 varying from four or five to thirty in number. On the very near approach of a boat 

 they strike away, dispersing in different directions, and then the sport of the tench- 

 catcher begins. With an eye like a hawk, he perceives where some particular fish has 

 stopped in his flight, which is seldom more than a few yards : his guide in this is the 

 bubble which rises generally where the fish stops. Approaching the place as gently as 

 possible in his boat, which must be small, light, and at the same time steady in her 

 bearings, he keeps her steady with his pole, and, lying down with his head over the 

 gunwale and his right arm bared to the shoulder — taking advantage, in his search, of 

 light and shade — he gently with his fingers displaces the weeds, and endeavours to 

 descry the tench in his retreat. If the fisherman can see part of the fish, so as to de- 

 termine which way the head lies, the certainty of capture is much increased ; if he 

 cannot, immersing his arm, he feels slowly and cautiously about until he touches it, 

 which, if done gently on head or body, is generally disregarded by this sluggish and 

 stupid fish ; but if the tail is the part molested, a dash away again is the usual conse- 

 quence. Should the fisherman succeed in ascertaining the position of the fish, which 

 under favourable circumstances he generally does, he insinuates one hand, which alone 

 is used, under it, just behind the gills, and raises it gently, but yet rapidly, towards 

 the surface of the water. In lifting it over the boat side, which, it need not be said, 

 should be low, he takes care not to touch the gunwale with his knuckles, as the very 



