THE CARP. 91 



strike immediately you see a bite ; but if in a pond or 

 very still water, wait a moment or two before you 

 strike, because Carp do not gorge so quickly in dead 

 water as in a stream where food passes on with the 

 current, which only allows time enough to catch, or it 

 is for ever gone. ^VTien you have hooked a Carp, 

 give line, use him gently and with patience, winding 

 him in, and letting out again, till he is quite exhausted ; 

 for they are a very strong and exceeding artful Fish 

 in the water, especially in rivers, and will try every 

 possible way to get among heavy weeds, around a 

 pile or post, or under the shelving banks, so as to 

 endanger breaking the line, or get away by the 

 hook's drawing, which Carp and Chub particularly 

 have a wonderful knack of effecting, when they get 

 among heavy weeds, or between branches and roots 

 of trees which are under the surface of the wa- 

 ter. When Carp fishing, and the place not having 

 been previously ground-baited, then use such as 

 when Roach fishing, see page 25, but throw it 

 in gently, and in small pieces, for Carp are soon 

 alarmed : when angling with sweet paste, frequently 

 throw in a few small pieces of it close to your float ; 

 let your bait swim about half an inch from the bottom, 

 when angling in still water ; but it should touch the 

 bottom, when fishing in a river or stream. Always 

 keep as much as possible out of the sight of Carp, 

 while angling for them, either by sitting down or 

 stooping behind weeds, &c. New-made grains, 

 worms cut into small pieces, and bruised green peas. 



