62 THE ANGLER S GUIDE. 



light stiff top, a small wiiicli, running tackle of fine plat- 

 ted silk line, fine gut line, quill float and No. 9 or 10 

 hook : when a No. 10 hook is used, they are generally 

 those of a thicker substance than the usual kind, and are 

 seldom used by experienced Anglers for any other pur- 

 pose than Barbel fishing ■■, those stout hooks are kept at 

 the principal tackle shops in London. The reason these 

 sort and small sized hooks are preferred in Barbel fish- 

 ing is, that in fine weather and bright water they are 

 very shy in biting, and, therefore, require the finest tackle 

 and smallest hook to beguile them : besides, the Barbel 

 has but a small mouth, and that so placed as to make it 

 somewhat difficult to take quickly a large bait 5 and as 

 the chaps of Barbel are of such a strong leather sub- 

 stance, the smallest hook, if strong, will hold the largest 

 of them, which the experienced Angler knows, because 

 he is obliged to cut out the hook after having killed a 

 Barbel : baits — red worms, gentles, and greaves. The 

 bait must always touch, and, in strong streams or thick 

 water, drag two or three inches on the ground 5 keep 

 the top of your rod always over the float, and do not let 

 the line touch the water ; I mean that part of the line 

 between the top of the rod and the float, which should 

 be about two feet, for, if longer, it bags, and hangs in the 

 water, and prevents your hitting a very quick bite or 

 pull down ; this method should be followed in angling 

 in streams for all kinds of Fish. Greaves are certainly 

 the most killing bait ; but, when I fish for Barbel, I 

 always take the three baits with me, alternately putting 

 worms or gentles, or greaves and a worm, on the hook 



I 



