Page:British Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fresh-water Fishes.djvu/104

BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES weighing 3½ pounds each within five minutes of one another in a tributary of the River Colne, near Watford. It cannot be considered a solitary species as, when on the feed, a number may soon be caught in the same spot. Quietness is essential when angling for Tench, as it is very shy, and seems to be acquainted with every movement taking place on the bank. The best bait is a medium-size lob- worm. Sweet paste is also considered a luring "dish." To attract the fish, and work different holes, it is a good plan to slightly bob the float up and down without disturbing the water, resting occasionally so as to wait results. The bait moving below will probably have the desired result. This species is well distributed in Britain, and is found as far north as the Southern Highlands of Scotland. It is an animal as well as a vegetable feeder, and except in Spring, when it emerges from its Winter torpor, is always in a fat and healthy condition. The Tench is a tenacious species, and can exist not only for some time out of water, but is none the worse for being buried in mud when its liquid haunts have disappeared during drought. It spawns in June, the tiny eggs being shed, without restriction as to numbers, on aquatic plants growing in shallow water. In about seven days the small eggs hatch out, and at the end of a year the young weighs about 4 ounces. After then, it is said to increase in weight to the extent of 16 ounces per annum. An 8 pound fish may be regarded as a very fine specimen. One of the finest I have seen was caught by my sister—Mrs. E. J. Bryant—in the 86