150 THE ANGLER S GUIDE. 



timber, laying at Limehouse-hole, was a favorite place 

 for Smelt -fishing J from those timbers a hundred 

 dozen have frequently been taken in a day. Then, 

 again. Perry's Dock, Blackwall, now belonging to the 

 East India Company, what a place for Smelts in those 

 days ! — ^From this place, it was noways unusual for an 

 expert Angler to carry away upwards of twenty dozen 

 of fine Smelts. I have, very frequently, taken five or 

 six dozen before eight o'clock in the morning, and 

 returned home to breakfast, then residing about two 

 miles from the spot ; but this dock, as well as the 

 river, is nearly deserted by the Smelts ; in fact, there 

 has been so few, for several years past, that myself 

 and many others, have entirely declined troubling 

 ourselves about them. Th^ only place, at present, 

 they are sought after, is in the City Canal, but they 

 are very small in size, and few in number. I have 

 made much inquiry on the subject of the Smelts not 

 visiting, as usual, the river Thames, but without any 

 satisfactory result. 



Smelts are caught by angling in the following man- 

 ner : you must have an exceeding strong and flexible 

 top to your rod, strong gut line, heavy float, and from 

 ten to twelve or more hooks, about eight or nine inches 

 apart — the hooks will stand better from the line if 

 tied on a fine bristle, about six inches long. Use 

 No. 8. or 9 hooks j the best baits are a small piece of 

 the belly of an Eel, and pieces of a Smelt, the bottom 

 hook touching the ground. — Note, when they bite, 

 they throw the float up — all other Fish pull it down ; 



