PLATE XCIII. 
This fish is found in great lakes and in the deeper parts of still, or 
gently flowing streams. Their food consists ot heibs, moist earth, 
and worms, which they find at the bottom of the water. The 
spawning season is in May, or as early as the end of September, 
when the weather is warm and favourable ; at the commencement 
of the spawning season they ascend laige rivers, and deposit theii 
eggs, which are of a reddish colour in the most secure places 
among the plants that grow in the water. 
The Bream is a fish considered in England as insipid, and of little 
consequence. On the continent however, especially in the territories 
of the King of Prussia ; in the states of Holstein, Mecklenburgh, Li- 
vonia, and in Sweden, the Bream is held in high repute. They 
abound in the lakes of those countries, the fisheries of which are 
rented at a high puce. 1 he flesh of this Ash is white and not ill fla- 
voured. It is observed to live to a great age, and to attain to a con- 
siderable size, growing commonly to the length of a foot or eighteen 
inches, and sometimes even to between two and three feet. Those 
of twelve or fourteen pounds weight are preferred foi the table. 
It is easily distinguished by the great breadth and propoi donate la- 
teral compression of the body : the head is small ; the back is remai k- 
ably arched, and the fins somewhat falcated and dusky ; the lateral 
line placed very low and waved irregularly. The colours of this fish 
while living and in the water are beautiful, the upper parts partaking 
of all the various hues of green and olive, changeable to purple, and 
golden yellow, and as it descends towards the lateral line becoming 
of the purest silver, which latter pervades the whole of the lower parts 
ot the fish. The brilliancy of those colours are evanescent in the ex- 
treme, vanishing as the creature dies, the purple fading, and the 
