The Probert Encyclopaedia of Nature

BREAM

The bream (Abramis brama) is a fresh water fish allied to and belonging to the carp family Cyprinidae. It is about 70 cm long, of a yellowish-white colour, and distinguished by its compressed and elevated body, the short dorsal fin, and the absence of barbells on the mouth. There are seven European species, two of which are British, the common bream and the white bream. Some species occur sporadically in salt-water, and they are often found in stagnant and slow-moving water. It is found in many European lakes and rivers, and affords good sport to the angler, but is a very coarse and insipid food. It prefers still water with a bottom of soft soil, and feeds both on animal and vegetable matter. It is little known in Scotland, though common in many parts of England and Ireland. The name is also given to various kinds of sea-fishes, mostly of the family Sparidae, as the black sea-bream, the common sea-bream or gilthead, the abort sea-bream, etc.
Research Bream