RULES, &C. FOR ANGLING. 343 



that they are suspicious of every thing- they see, feel, 

 or hear ; even the shaking the bank of a river (under 

 which Fish frequently lay) will alarm Barbel, Chub, 

 &c. and spoil the Angler's sport : this occurs, fre- 

 quently, by strangers walking to and fro to see or 

 inquire what sport, &c. and, also, when two or three 

 Anglers are fishing near each other : therefore, avoid 

 agitating the water, by trampling on the bank unne- 

 cessarily ; drop your baited hook in the water, gently, 

 and you will kill more Fish than three Anglers who 

 act differently. 



When you have hooked a heavy Fish, use your ut- 

 most skill (for it is much easier to strike or hook 

 than to kill or land a Fish) ; immediately give him 

 line, but always endeavour to keep the line from 

 hanging slack, for, when so, the Fish, by shaking 

 or rubbing its nose against the bottom, or any sub- 

 stance, weeds, &c. easily gets rid of the hook : by 

 no means check him, unless there is some great im- 

 pediment in your way, that would, almost to a cer- 

 tainty, break, or so entangle your line, as to leave no 

 chance of your killing the Fish ; in which case, chuse 

 the least evil, by trying the strength of your tackle 

 in bringing him to the landing net or shore ; but, 

 otherwise, keep him out of sight : when the Fish stops, 

 wind up some of the line, and lead him to the part 

 of the water that is free from the current, weeds, &c. -, 

 keep the top of your rod elevated, and draw the Fish 

 to the right, the left, and so on till he is quite tired 

 or spent ; but, while so playing the Fish, when it 



