THURSLAND HILL FISHERY

THE FISH

Common Carp

The body is thick and deep, olive-bronze in colour, with large scales: the mouth bears four barbels, two small, two large; the dorsal fin is long and concave, highest at the beginning.  The carp feeds mostly on vegetable matter, but worms, insect larvae and shellfish are also eaten.  It has a reputation for caution and cunning.

Mirror Carp

The Mirror Carp a variety of the Common Carp, characterized by having only one or two rows of very large and shiny scales on its sides. Four barbels, the long dorsal fin (dented and higher at the beginning) and the mode of life of the Common Carp.

Crucian Carp

It is olive-brown, deeper and thicker than the Common Carp, from which it can be distinguished by its long, convex dorsal fin, highest in the middle, and by having no barbels.  The short anal fin and the long dorsal are the most obvious differences from the Bream.

Roach

The back is dark green, blue or brown, the sides and belly silvery. The concave dorsal fin begins above the base of the ventral fins.  The anal fin is concave, short and bright red.  The mouth is small, with a projecting upper lip.  It prefers gently flowing weedy water, and feeds on small creatures and vegetable matter.

Tench

It is very tenacious of life. It prefers weedy and muddy water, where it grubs at night in the mud for shellfish, worms and vegetable matter.  The colour varies from olive to blackish.  The eye is small and red, the fins rounded, and there are two little barbels on the side of the mouth. 

Perch

Its skin is rough, olive-green in colour, shading into yellow and white, with from five to seven dark vertical stripes.  There are two dorsal fins, the first spiky and with a black spot, the second soft; sharp spines are also present at the beginning of the lower fins, which are bright red. The Perch feeds on small fish, worms, shellfish and aquatic insects.

Rudd

It resembles the Roach, but a yellow, golden or brownish tinge covers the silvery sides; the dorsal fin is well behind the beginning of the ventral fins, and the lower lip projects (unlike the Roach's).  The fins and sometimes even the lips are red.  It feeds higher up in the water than the Roach, taking flies and also shellfish, worms and plant material.