THE BARBEL. 



A large Barbel, Tench, an 1 RDr.ch. 



The Barbel. 



With hurried steps 



The anxious Angler paces on, nor looks aside, 

 Lest some brother of the angle, ere he arrives. 

 Possess his favourite swim.* 



The Barbel is of the Carp species, and derives its 

 name from the barbs or wattles at its mouth, which 

 are four in number, of a fleshy leather substance ; they 



* The partiality for a particular swim, hole, or eddy in a river, 

 is very great among Anglers ; many will travel during the night 

 to arrive first at a favourite place. I knew an Angler who fre- 

 quently, in Summer, leaving London in the evening, and stopping 

 at a village public-house near the river Lea, would take his supper 

 and pipe ; remain there until the people of the house retired to bed, 

 then walk to his favourite swim, sit down, and wait patiently 

 till the dawn of day enabled him to use his angle rod. 



