Bream
(Abramis abrama)
This is another fish that was eaten, and in fact, is sometimes still eaten in mainland Europe, and large specimens are still reared for this purpose. It is a bottom feeder, and prefers slow-moving rivers, canals and stillwaters with a good silt deposit where they can grub around for food. It is a relatively long-lived fish, occasionally reaching 20 years of age. The bream matures after 3 or 4 years, although some males may produce milt (sperm) after two years. Fish over 10lb are sometimes caught, but in overstockes ponds and lakes, only stunted fish occur. They spawn in early summer in shallow water and is a communal affair. Sometimes the water appears to boil as hundreds of densely packed fish lay their eggs on water-weed. The eggs hatch in 3 to 12 days depending on temperature. Males develop white, warty lumps (tubercles) on the head and sides at spawning time. The body of mature bream is very deep and laterally flattened, and the head is comparatively small. When feeding they swim slowly in an almost verticle position, with their protusible mouth extended forming a tube with which to suck up food from the bottom. They are a shoal fish and sometimes hundreds can be seen together. Young fish are silver in colour, while the deep bronze colour comes with maturity.