366 
The Animal-Lore of Shahspeare’s Time. 
which suggests the idea of plumpness. Randle Holme 
says that the name chub comes from the German sehupfish. 
Chubby has grown to mean a smooth-faced plump 
appearance. Marston writes :— 
“ I never saw a fool lean; the chub-fac’d fop 
Shines sleek with full cramm’d fat of happiness.” 
{Antonio's Bevenge.) 
“ The Bleke is but a feble fysshe, yet he is holsom,” 
writes Dame Juliana. The bleak was called 
from its appearance the fresh-water sprat, and 
from the rapidity of its movements the water-swallow. 
According to Walton, bleaks were packed in salt and 
exported by the Italians as anchovies. Another use to 
which this fish was put was in the manufacture of artificial 
pearls. The glittering scales were rubbed off, and formed 
a silvery paste-like substance, which was made up into 
balls, or formed the lining of glass beads. 
The name of the next fish, the Loach, is derived by 
some writers from the French word locher , to 
fidget, from its restless movements, especially 
during stormy weather. 
Shakspeare’s only mention of the loach has given rise 
to some discussion. Mason suggested that the phrase 
“ breeds fleas like a loach ” (1 Henry IV., ii. 1, 23) has 
reference to the great fecundity of this fish. Izaak 
Walton says that the loach is usually full of spawn, and 
breeds three times in the year, as Drayton reports of the 
barbel. He says also that Gesner and other learned 
physicians recommended this small fish as light and 
harmless diet for invalids. Reference has been made by 
some critics to a passage in Pliny (Nat Hist. b. ix. 
c. xlvii.), showing that in ancient times fishes were 
supposed to be infested with the parasites that so annoyed 
the Carrier :— 
“ Last of all some fishes there be which of themselves are given 
