The Boach—The Bleak 
483 
Dace spawn in March, and are in season about three 
weeks afterwards. They improve, and are good about 
Michaelmas ; but in February they are best. The flesh 
is, however, at all times woolly and insipid. They are 
very lively creatures, and, if kept in ponds, may live a 
considerable time. 
THE KOACH, (Cyprinus rutilus,) 
Belongs also to the 'carp family, and is remarkable for 
its numerous progeny. It is a deep yet thin-made fish, 
in shape somewhat resembling the bream, but approach- 
ing the carp in the breadth and shape of its scales, which 
are large and deciduous. The soundness of the flesh is 
become proverbial, and pleases the taste by a peculiar 
delicacy of flavour. The ventral fins are, like those of 
the perch, of a bright crimson, and the irides of the eye 
sparkle like rubies and garnets. The length of the Eoach 
is commonly between nine and ten inches, but sometimes 
much greater. 
THE BLEAK, (Cyprinus alburnus,) 
Is nearly allied to the roach. It is a small glittering fish, 
familiar to. most persons from its playing about on warm 
