ANGLING FOR GUDGEON. 101 



gudgeon-fishing. Gudgeon are a true bottom fish, and 

 always swim in shoals. They feed among the weed at 

 the bottom of the river, and more especially on the 

 worms and other insects that lay among the gravel. If 

 good sport is desired in gudgeon-fishing, it is necessary, 

 as old Finmore, the fisherman, used to say, to " keep 

 scratching their back," that is to say, a heavy iron rake 

 is thrown out of the punt and the bottom of the river 

 below the swim is well raked. If there are any gudgeons 

 about, they will soon be brought up to the swim by the 

 clouds of mud which float down the river. It fi-equently 



GUDGEON. 



happens that one catches all the gudgeons which arrive 

 in answer to the first raking operation. It is therefore 

 necessary, then, to *' scratch their backs" again, which, 

 being continued, brings up fresh arrivals. The gudgeon's 

 bite, as shown by the float, is a merry one. All on a 

 sudden you see the float dance again and then dis- 

 appear under water. At that moment strike, and you 

 are nearly sure of your fish. You must be very careful 

 to strike very smartly every time the float arrives at 

 the end of the swim, as sometimes the gudgeon coquettes 

 with the bait, and if you are not quick enough when he 

 is making up his mind you lose him altogether. The 

 gudgeon fisherman has to serve an ax)prenticeship as to 

 taking the proper depth with the plummet. Unless the 

 worm, which is the best bait, swims exactly right, and 



