GUDGEON, Gobio, a genus of fishes of the family eyprinithr, having a short dorsal fin. a short anal fin, and no strong serrated ray in either, the body covered with rather large scales, and barbules at the angles of the mouth. The COMMON GUDGEON (G. flurialilis) is abundant in many of the rivers of England, particularly in such as have gravelly bot toms, and occasional pools and rapids. It seldom exceeds 8 in. in length; the depth is not one-fifth of the length. The tail is forked. The eye is placed high up on the side of the head. The upper parts are olive brown, spotted with black; the under parts white. Gudgeons swim in shoals... They feed on worms, mollusks, and other small animals, and are extremely ready to bite, at a bait,, Which is commoul)'a small piece of a red worm. Great numbers are often taken even by young anglers, and the readiness with which the gudgeon is lured has become proverbial. The gudgeon is much esteemed for the table. Many are taken with casting-nets in shallow water, and kept in well-boats till wanted. Fishmongers also keep them in tanks, constantly. supplied with fresh cold water. They thrive well in ponds supplied with fresh water by brooks.
The gudgeon is usually one of the first objects of the juvenile angler's ambition; and with a crooked pin and thread, with a fragment of a worm for bait, the angler often imbibes his first love of the art while catching his first gudgeon. The gudgeon is very
easily captured. Swimming in large shoals at the bottom, it watches with incessant industry for every trifling matter brought down by the stream. A small red worm is by far the best bait for the gudgeon; next to it, perhaps, a maggot or gentle. A small hook and a light float are required. A fragment of worm is fixed on the hook, neatness iu baiting not beieg a de-ideratum, for the same bait, v, ithout much alteration, will often take ten or a dozen gudgeons in succession. The bait should drag or trip along the bottom; and if there be gudgeons about, it will hardly fail to attract them. Ground-bait is not required for gudgeon; but if the angler will, with a large rake or any other heavy matter disturb the gravel, and rake a clear bright spot, a yard m width, and two or three in length, the gudgeons, attracted by the dislodged particles, will swarm up to the spot in great numbers in search of food; and thus it is no uncommon thing to take by one or two rakings, from five or six to ten or twelve dozen of gudgeons in one spot. There is no art required in the angling as they bite very boldly, and the angler can hardly miss catching them.