| BARBEL (Barbus barbus) Grahame King, Adams Mill Fishery, Bedford, Bedfordshire | ||||||
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Distribution: Naturally found only in the rivers of Eastern England, which it entered during the last ice age. At this time the Rivers of Eastern England drained directly into the River Rhine, and so were connected to mainland Europe. The barbel has been stocked into a large number of rivers over the last fifty years. It can now been found from the River Clyde in Scotland to the River Stour in Dorset. Very common across Europe, where several related species can also be found.
Features: An elongated body points to a life in fast flowing rivers, and for the most part this is true of the barbel. Generally found in the middle reaches of rivers where there is some flow. Although it is not possible to sex barbel from their external characteristics, female barbel grow much larger than the males. It is rare to find a male barbel weighing more then six pounds. Diet: The mouth of the barbel is highly underslung and features protrusible lips and four large barbules. The whole design of the barbel's mouth is adapted to feeding on invertebrates picked off the river bed, or dug up from amongst stones. The barbel is a very strong fish and it will often excavate large amounts of gravel when feeding. Barbel will feed on a very wide range of different types of food, although small invertebrates, such as caddis larvae, and freshwater shrimp tend to provide the bulk of their food. Barbel will also take small fish, particularly during the Spring. Spawning: Barbel spawn between May and July, although unlike many species of coarse fish they can in exceptional years spawn more than once. These fish require clean gravel with a good flow of water in which to lay their eggs. The female beats the gravel with her tail, excavating a shallow scrape in the process and also cleaning the gravel of silt. A group of males then approaches the female and they spawn together. The female then covers the eggs with a shallow layer of gravel. The young barbel hatch within a week, but unlike other coarse fish the young remain in the gravel for several weeks, surviving first off their large yolk sack, and then actively hunting tiny invertebrates in the spaces amongst the gravel. Growth: Despite their large size, barbel are quite a slow growing species, often taking five years to reach catchable size. Specimen barbel of ten pounds or more are likely to be twenty years old. Although we do not know the maximum longevity of barbel it is estimated that they can live for at least thirty years. |
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| BREAM (Common Bronze) (Abramis brama) James Rust, Cambridge Water | ||||||
The Common Bream has a strikingly deep body with highly compressed sides and a distinctive mouth. Its dark back frequently has a greenish tinge with silvery grey sides and a whitish belly. Young fish are silvery, while the older Bream are dark and often have a golden lustre on their sides. Bream generally are found in large shoals, especially when young, favoring deep, slow or still water. The Bream can live to the ripe old age of 20 - 25 years.
Methods of Capture. Predominantly feeding on the soft bottom of ponds, lakes and the lower reaches of rivers, the Bream can be caught with legered baits or laying on with a waggler. Bream tend to shoal and move casually around looking for food. Large catches result from heavy feeding, effectively laying down a carpet of bait and groundbait whereupon the shoal once finding the food will stay either till disturbed or having 'mopped up' the food when they will move on. Baits such as Redworm and Castor can be used together quite successfully. Maggots, pinkies and chopped worm mixed in with Groundbait used liberally can provide a feeding ground for the shoal. The Bream has not got a reputation though as a fighting fish, generally coming to the net with little resistance. Once a shoal starts to feed, any fish hooked needs to be pulled away from the remainder quickly, otherwise the shoal will be spooked and will move on. Large weights can be caught provided the shoal stays over the feeding ground. A fairly consistent method is an open-end feeder filled with a groundbait mix combined with a hook length of 18 - 24 inches. Once cast in and the feeder reaches the bottom, take up the slack in the line and then pull the rod a further 18 inches or so. This will place the hook over the groundbait. Tip: I fish private, deep lakes in North Yorkshire. A good head of large Bream are present (7 lb - 10 lb) but are extremely difficult to catch. When on the top (most of the day if it is warm) they are almost impossible to catch but at dawn and dusk there are chances. I use a Fox's stay sharp short shank carp hook No 6 or 8, 5 lb hooklength and 8 lb mainline and a very large piece of sliced bread (about 2 inches square). The trick on this water appears to be Dont Strike. Allow the bite to develop, which can take a minute or so, until the reel handle begins to unwind (No clutch!). I never catch many, but then again, very few do on this lake. Allowing the bream to have a good suck on the bread flake without striking appears to encourage a slow but positive bite and the large Fox's Stay Sharp hook does the rest. |
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| TROUT (Brown) (Salmo trutta)(Natural) Brian Rutland, Lock Awe, Argull, Scotland | ||||||
Distribution: Brown trout are amongst the most widespread of all freshwater fish, perhaps only second to the carp. Brown trout were originally limited to Northern Europe and North America, but have been transported around the globe by man, both as a sporting fish and for food. Today, brown trout is amongst the most heavily cultivated of fish with large scale farms being found in many areas. Brown trout can be found throughout the freshwaters of the British Isles and Ireland and also in coastal waters.
Features: Although they have a dark colour, the rather dour common name of Salmo trutta belies a fish that is covered with small spots of many different hues of red and blue. Trout that migrate into coastal waters, commonly known as sea trout, are much paler in colour, almost silver in appearance, and can even be mistaken for salmon. Diet: Brown trout have a very wide ranging diet and will take anything from tiny invertebrates to small fish.The bulk of the diet of trout is made up of small invertebrates, particularly mayfly nymphs and caddis fly larvae. The larger sea trout tend to feed upon small fish, particularly young herring and sand eels. The largest lake trout, known as ferox, become almost solely fish eaters, following the huge shoals of artic charr found in the huge ice-age lakes of Northern England and Scotland. Spawning: All trout must return to small streams with clean gravel to spawn. Spawning tends to take place in September and Octoberas water temperatures are beginning to fall for the Winter. The female digs a shallow redd into which the eggs are deposited. The eggs take approximately 150 days to hatch, the longest time of any British freshwater fish. The young fish spend at least a year in the natal stream before moving downstream to the sea or into lakes. Growth: The growth of trout is very dependant upon the environment. In small streams, brown trout may grow to no more than twelve inches in length and weigh less than a pound. Size is determined by the amount of food available and the size of the stream. A large fish in a small stream would struggle to find enough food and would be easy prey to terrestrial predators, like herons, so they stay small. In lakes and the coastal zone, food is much more available and there is much more room for the fish. In these environments, growing large is an advantage when trying to avoid predatory fish and so the trout grow as quickly as possible. Sea trout may reach five pounds in only five years and the largest fish may live for twenty or more years before returning to their home streams. | ||||||
| CARP (Mirror) (Cyprinus carpio) Simon Bater, Conningbrook Lake, Ashford, Kent | ||||||
Distribution: Carp were introduced to the British Isles in the middle ages, although it was not until several centuries later that the King carp that we fish for today became widespread. The original 'wild' carp that were introduced and reared in ponds for food were long, slender scaled fish that rarely reached a weight of ten pounds. These fish were very close to the wild form of the carp found naturally in the River Danube. Today carp can be found around the globe. From New Zealand to China, carp are amongst the most widespread of all fish species. This is a far cry from their natural distribution and thanks solely to the hand of humans.
Features: Apart from their large size, which sets them apart from all other coarse fish, carp are rarely mistaken for any other species of fish in the UK. Carp have a large underslung mouth with four barbules around the lips. Colour can vary greatly from dark brown to grey. Selective breeding to improve the bloodlines of carp has led to the king carp that we see today. King carp not only grow much larger and much faster than their wild cousins, but selective breeding has also led to the breeding-out of scaling. Whilst scaled carp still exist, mirror carp, with a few scales, and leather carp, with no scales at all, have been developed. Diet: Thanks to their large size carp are able to take almost any kind of aquatic food. Although their underslung mouth suggests a bottom feeder, carp are quite capable of feeding on the surface and can often be seen swirling at emerging food morsels during the warmer months of the year. The largest percentage of the diet of carp is generally made up from small invertebrates. Chironomid larvae, freshwater shrimps and oligocheates are favoured. Of the larger invertebrates freshwater mussels and crayfish are taken with gusto. Spawning: In the cooler climate of Northern Europe carp do not spawn every year. The water temperature must approach 20 centigrade for carp to begin spawning and for the eggs to develop. For this reason spawning is often quite a rare sight in the UK. Because of our short summers and cool temperatures young carp face a very stiff struggle for survival. In many fisheries natural recruitment of carp is unheard of. When they do spawn, carp prefer dense stands of soft aquatic plants, although I have also observed them spawning on the much rougher surface of rocks in the Canary Islands. Carp can suffer quite extensive damage when spawning on rocks, although they appear to recover from these injuries within a few weeks. Growth: Carp are one of our fastest growing fish species. In good conditions, carp will reach four ounces within the first year. One pound within two years and ten pounds within four years. Carp grow for between ten to fifteen years before they no longer increase in length. Weight can vary greatly though and spawn can add twenty percent to the weight of a female carp during the Spring months. |
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| CATFISH (Wels) (Silurus glanis)R Garner, Withy Pool, Henlow, Beds | ||||||
Distribution: Not native to the British Isles, although can now be found in over 150 lakes and rivers in England. Not found in Scotland or Ireland. Native to the River Danube and other large rivers of Eastern Europe where it is known to grow to weights exceeding two hundred pounds. In the last fifty years the wels has been introduced to many fisheries across Europe and has performed particularly well in Italy and Spain, growing to weight approaching two hundred pounds. Now also farmed in Asia for the table.
Features: As our only widespread catfish species, the wels is unlikely to be mistaken for any other fish. Could possibly be confused with the rare bullhead catfish which has eight barbules, compared to the six barbules of the wels. Diet: Wels catfish will eat anything small enough to fit into their mouths, although for the most part they appear to feed preferentially on live prey. Despite their small eyes, wels have reasonable eyesight and an exceptional sense of smell and vibration. Their long bodies are covered with pits containing receptors for these two senses maximising the senses. The main pair of barbules are spread wide when hunting forming an extremely sensitive aerial that allows the fish to home in on it's prey. Catfish will also feed on shellfish, crustaceans, amphibians and wild fowl. Spawning: Little is know about the natural spawning of the wels. Each female can produce several million eggs, yet survival is very poor, probably as a result of cannibalism. Spawning takes place at night in June and July when the fish move into shallow weedy water. Growth: Catfish grow incredibly quickly in warm water and can reach a metre in length in only five years and two metres in ten. In the cooler climate of the British Isles catfish grow much more slowly and can take ten years to reach twenty pounds and perhaps another ten years to reach thirty pounds. The main limiting factor in the UK appears to be a lack of suitable food, evidenced by their fast growth in lakes containing large numbers of invertebrates. Little is known about the maximum age of catfish. Certainly, fish approaching forty years of age are known in the UK, although it is said that the fish can live for up to one hundred years. It is likely to take us a considerable time to find out! |
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| CHUB (Leuciscus cephalus) Andy Maker, Southern Stillwater. | ||||||
Distribution: Found in England, except Cornwall, South Wales, and Southern Scotland. In Europe chub can be found from Scandinavia to Italy. Not reared as a food fish, so not as widely distributed as some other coarse fish.
Features: A thick-set fish with brandy coloured flanks, grey tail and pinkish fins. The main feature of the chub is the rounded head and large mouth. Chub can be distinguished from the closely related dace by examining the anal fin. The anal fin of the chub is convex, whereas that of the dace is concave. The mouth of the dace is also much smaller than that of the chub. Diet: Chub will eat just about anything that they can fit into their mouths. The diet of small fish is made up of small zooplankton, particularly cladocera. As the chub grow they widen their range of foods to include tiny thrips (a small fly that they catch from the water surface), chironomids and bryazoans. By the time the chub reaches a pound in weight they will eat anything from fruit to fish, although their main diet is made up of caddis larvae and freshwater shrimp. Spawning: If you look at shallow gravel riffle between the beginning of May and mid-June you will find shoals of chub readying themselves for spawning. Chub tend to spawn during the early morning when the females, chased by the smaller males, move up into water only just deep enough to cover them. The female releases her eggs onto the surface of the gravel, where they are fertilised by the males. The eggs hatch in around four days and the young fish drift downstream until they reach shallow slacks. Growth: Despite their voracious appetites, chub are a relatively slow growing species. It can take 6-10 years for the chub to reach a pound in weight and a specimen of five pounds may be twenty or more years old. Chub can live for 25 years, and probably nearer 30 and unlike most coarse fish they will continue to grow in length for almost all of their lives |
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| CARP (Crucian) (Carassius carassius)M Bowler, RMC Fishery, Yateley Lake | ||||||
Distribution: The crucian is amongst the most contentious of all our fishes. Anybody who believes they can identify them easily is either a charlatan, or deluded, for this species not only easily hybridises with both carp and the closely related brown goldfish, but can also be easily confused with the brown goldfish. For this reason, it is difficult to determine the actual distribution of this species in the UK. At best, it is limited and perhaps in decline thanks to hybridisation. In Europe it is found through Scandinavia to isolated (introduced) populations in the Rio Ebro in Spain.
Features: Dark golden bronze colouration makes the crucian an impressive looking fish. An absence of barbules is a clear and easily defined difference between it and small common carp. Look for a lateral line count of between 31-26 and convex dorsal fin and a weak leading ray to the dorsal fin as hints to identification, although many of these features will be shared with hybrids. Diet: Despite being a member of the carp family, crucians are much more delicate feeders than their larger cousins. This is in part because of their definite preference for tiny invertebrates, particularly chironomid larvae. Larger fish will take a range of invertebrates including small molluscs and freshwater shrimps when available. Spawning: Crucians spawn in very warm conditions found between May and August. In the UK, spawning may only take place infrequently. The ideal habitat for crucians is small farm ponds and oxbow lakes where the harsh conditions do not suit larger species that would adversely compete with these small fish. Crucians are particularly adapted to high temperatures and low oxygen concentrations and can survive in tiny ponds that become very warm. Paradoxically, these harsh environments lead to good survival of young crucians and small pond populations are often made up of huge numbers of stunted individuals. Growth: Crucians are a slow growing species. The fish mature after only 3-4 years at a weight of only half a pound. When they are not stunted, crucians can live for around fifteen years and will slowly grow to a couple of pounds in weight. Fish of more than two pounds are generally very rare. In stunted populations each fish may weigh only a few ounces, but will be sexually mature and each year will produce more offspring propagating the stunted population. |
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| DACE (Leuciscus leuciscus) Simon Ashton, River Wear | ||||||
Distribution: Once very common in the UK, dace, and particularly large dace, are becoming increasingly rare. Possible reasons for the decline in dace populations are low flows leading to poor spawning and increased predation from cormorants. Found throughout Northern Europe, although it tends to be found in cooler countries. Not found in Iberia. Absent from the South West of England and Ireland. Found in the South of Scotland only.
Features: A slim silver-flanked fish with grey fins. Often mistaken for chub (although the dace has a smaller mouth and concave shaped anal fin) and roach (which have red fins and are plumper). Diet: Dace are specialist drift feeders. In rich rivers dace will spend the days resting up in open shallow water away from predators. As dusk approaches the fish will move upstream to a shallow gravel riffle where, as the light begins to fail, large numbers of caddis fly larvae begin to drift downstream. The dace feed hard on these invertebrates through the night, although feeding is most intense at dawn and dusk. In poorer environments dace will have a broader diet feeding on a wide range of small invertebrates that are either picked from the drift or from the river bed. Spawning: Dace are the earliest spawning of all coarse fish. Even when the mornings are still frosty in early March, dace will be found massing in the deeper water before shallow gravel riffles. The fish often travel several miles to reach the right conditions for spawning and in the days leading up to spawning several thousand fish may have gathered. At this time the male fish develop very fine spawning tubercles and have a very rough feel to their skin. The females are smoother and much plumper. All of the dace spawn over a period of about a week on the clean gravel shallows. Because of the cold water conditions the eggs take about three weeks to hatch. Growth: Dace are one of the shorter lived coarse fish. In rich rivers the dace grow very quickly, reaching sexual maturity in three years, and only live to be seven or eight. In poorer environments the dace grow more slowly, but live for up to twelve years. Thanks to their love of cool water dace are able to grow even at temperatures of eight centigrade. This enables them to do particularly well in the cool waters of Scandinavia. |
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| EEL (Anguilla anguilla) Master S Terry, Kingfisher Lake, Nr Ringwood, Hants | ||||||
Distribution: Eels are amongst the most widespread of all coarse fish. As the eel spends a percentage of it's life at sea, it has not been limited to the rivers of the East coast unlike many other species. Eels are found throughout Europe and Asia and a closely related species is found throughout the Pacific rim.
Features: The sinuous shape of the eel is almost synonymous with the species and distinguishes it from virtually all other fish. Only the lampreys, which are now rather rare in the UK, share a similar body shape, but can be distinguished by their lack of a proper mouth. Eels are dark black or grey in colour with small steely eyes and a pointed mouth ideal for feeding on a wide variety of foods. Diet: Eels will feed upon a very wide range of live and dead prey. Whilst it has long been thought that eels are scavengers, we now know that in many fisheries eels are active hunters, feeding upon live prey. Small fish often make up a large percentage of the diet of the eel. Because of their small mouths, eels will only normally take fish up to 10cm in length. Worms are the classic eel bait and these fish often feed upon both terrestrial and aquatic worms. Other invertebrates are taken, particularly by young eels. Spawning: Little is known about the spawning of eels. It has long been believed that all adult eels migrate to the Sargasso Sea where they spawn in deep water. Recently though some evidence has come to light that suggests that eels may spawn in several different areas of the Oceans, some undergoing an incredible migration to the Pacific. Whilst the young eels are carried passively by Ocean currents, the eels must swim for several thousand miles against the current during the return journey. During this migration they do not feed and must rely upon fat reserves built up in freshwater to see them through the many months of the journey. Growth: Evidence for the age of eels comes from the examination of small bones in the inner ear called the otoliths. Just like the rings of a tree, the otoliths are made up of minute layers of calcium carbonate laid down each year. By counting the number of rings, and by measuring the distance between them it is possible to work out the age and growth of the eel. Examination of the otoliths has led to some staggering facts. Eels may be as much as ten years old before reaching freshwater. They can then spend up to eighty years in freshwater before beginning their return journey. Despite having a reputation as voracious feeders, eels are incredibly slow growing and may take twenty years to reach a weight of a pound and perhaps forty years to reach three pounds. |
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| CARP (Grass) (Ctenopharyngodon idella) Phillip Kingsbury, Horton Church Lake. LIST CLOSED 31st OCTOBER 2007 - No Further claims considered | ||||||
Distribution: Although they have been kept as ornamental fish for many decades, it is only in more recent times that grass carp have become more established. As their name suggests, they do eat plants and so the first large scale introductions in the British Isles were carried out by Liverpool University as an experiment in weed control. The large number of fish introduced to netted-off sections of the Lancaster canal did reduced the amount of weed present and as a result fish have been introduced to many other fisheries. For the most part, grass carp are found in only small numbers as a distraction to other species. They can now be found from Cornwall to Scotland and all points in-between.
Features: The grass carp looks nothing like other species of carp. In fact, grass carp are often mistaken for record sized chub! Like chub, they share a long thin body, with dark tail and bronze scales. Unlike chub, the mouth of the grass carp is smaller and lacks the thick lips of the chub. The eye is also much lower on the head, almost in line with the mouth in the grass carp. Diet: Despite their name, grass carp do not just eat grass! In fact, apart from young fish, plant material tends to make up quite a small percentage of the fish's diet. As with all coarse fish, grass carp begin feeding upon invertebrates before moving on to a wider diet including soft plants. Larger grass carp would struggle to gain enough nutrition from eating just plant material and so larger invertebrates, particularly molluscs become of increasing importance in the diet. Spawning: Although quite widespread I know of no fishery where grass carp spawn in the British Isles. This is probably because of the nature of their spawning behaviour. In their native Amur river large numbers of huge grass carp weighing fifty, sixty and even more pounds assemble in the main channel prior to spawning. When conditions are just right, both sexes release their gametes into the water where the semi-buoyant eggs are fertilised. Rather than sink to the bottom, the tiny eggs are carried by the current and develop in the water. Some will be lucky and find their way into warm backwaters where the hatchlings will find plenty of food. A huge proportion of the young fish and eggs will never make it to safety and will either be eaten or washed out to sea. Growth: In the cold waters and short summers of the British Isles, grass carp are quite slow growing and so we have probably not seen the maximum size for these fish yet. In the warmer conditions of central Europe they grow incredibly fast and can make fifty pounds and over a metre in length in ten years. In the small commercial fisheries common in the UK one pound per year is the average growth rate with perhaps three pounds being found in exceptional circumstances. |
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| GRAYLING (Thymallus thymallus) (Natural) S R Lanigan, River Frome, Dorset | ||||||
Distribution: Found in the more mountainous areas across Europe where it thrives in small fast flowing streams with high water quality and cool water. Absent from Northern Scotland and Ireland.
Features: The unmistakable huge dorsal fin of the grayling sets it apart from all other salmonid species. The sail-like dorsal is almost as high as the depth of the fish and extends for one third of the fish's length. Like all salmonids the grayling has a small adipose fin behind the dorsal fin. The grayling has a slightly underslung mouth and steely blue/purple colouration. Diet: Grayling adore caddis larvae and eat them in very large quantities. Despite their underslung mouths, they are quite capable of feeding upon drifting prey, which they tip up to capture. As with most fish found in small streams, grayling mainly feed at dawn and dusk. Large grayling are known to feed upon small fish, and in Scandinavian countries spinning with tiny lures is a recognised method for catching these sporting fish. Spawning: Grayling spawn around the beginning of March in the UK, although in Northern areas this may be delayed by as much as two months. Like all salmonids, grayling spawn on clean gravel, excavating a small redd in the gravel in which their eggs are laid. Clean gravel with a good exchange of water is essential for the survival of grayling eggs as they are very susceptible to pollution. Adult grayling are not particularly fecund and only produce around 10,00 eggs. Growth: Grayling spend their first month of life within the gravel, first using up the food reserves in their yolk sack, and then actively hunting small invertebrates that live between the particles of gravel. Once they emerge from the gravel, grayling grow extremely rapidly, reaching a length of around four inches by the end of their first year. The young fish mature within three years at a length of around eight inches. Grayling are not a long-lived fish and rarely live for more than eight to ten years. In very rich streams, where they grow more rapidly, they may only live for four to five years. |
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| GUDGEON (Gobio gobio)D H Hull, River Nadder, Sutton Mandeville, Wilts | ||||||
Distribution: A common little fish in Europe, where it can be found from the Pyrenees right through to Scandinavia. Like so many coarse fish, gudgeon are only naturally found in the South of England, but have been introduced to Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Now common throughout the British Isles in rivers and canals. Less common in lakes, owing to a lack of spawning habitat.
Features: A small fish, but with beautiful purple flashes on the flanks. Like its much larger cousin the barbel, this is a powerful fish that can often be found in fast flowing water. The underslung mouth and two barbules (barbel have four) are designed for feeding upon the river bed. Several sub-species exist in continental Europe, but have not been introduced to the British Isles. Diet: Gudgeon are often found on clean gravel and sand beds, particularly where there are large amounts of submerged plants. Gudgeon love feeding upon copepods, tiny shelled invertebrates that form swarms just above the river bed. Tiny caddis larvae and small aquatic worms are also taken when available. Spawning: When I used to work on the River Great Ouse we would use the gudgeon as a marker for the spawning of other species. Gudgeon spawn at the same time as roach and about 2-3 weeks before bream, bleak and chub. Because gudgeon spawn in shallow water their eggs are very easy to collect and so it was possible for us to check every day for spawning. Most books say that gudgeon spawn on clean gravel, but I have also found them spawning on fontinalis - the moss found stuck to stones on weir sills. Growth: Like most small coarse fish, gudgeon do not live very long. In cool water they can live for six years, but in more productive fisheries three years is a good age. They reach sexual maturity at two years of age, allowing them to spawn twice before dying. |
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