TROUT AND ANGLING. 387 



the obstructions in its course, are so likely to oc- 

 cur. Let the rod be of what kind it will, there 

 should always be a spike in the butt, for a rod 

 should never be suffered to lay upon the ground 

 or fall into the water, particularly in a current, 

 which is sure to sag down the line and do such 

 mischief as a little pains might have prevented. 

 He should have his fish pannier at his back, and 

 never be without his landing net under the left 

 arm, for reasons before stated. A clearing ring 

 is also often required in a brook like this. The 

 meshes of the net may be either small or large, as 

 the minnow, though always a good bait, is not 

 used in this stream. The practice is to procure a 

 fresh herring, and after having scaled it, make 

 three longitudinal cuts on each side, and then trans- 

 verse cuts, so as to reduce the whole shiny part of 

 the herring to square bits about double the size of 

 dice. To keep this bait in a convenient situa- 

 tion for use, either a small basket attached to the 

 pannier, or a tin box, with air holes in the top, is 

 necessary. 



We have mentioned a reel as essential, though it 

 is not for the usual purpose of holding a long line to 

 play and drown the fish, as in more open waters ; 

 but for the purpose of governing the length of the 

 line with greater convenience, as it becomes often 

 necessary, in order to insinuate the bait under the 



