244 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 
especial force in the case of the Barbel, which not only 
lives and feeds on the bottom, but procures its food 
’ 
most commonly by “rootling” with its nose amongst 
the gravel and stones, very much asa pig turns up a 
field with its snout. 
Bottom fishing either by the ordinary method, or in 
the Nottingham style, are now the fashionable modes of 
Barbel fishing. The tackle being that already described, 
but somewhat stronger than usual, as the Barbel is a very 
hard fighter, not seldom running from five to seven, and 
even occasionally to ten pounds weight. ‘The best baits 
are the tail of a lob-worm, greaves, and gentles—their 
“order of merit” on the average of waters being very 
much that in which they are here placed. When gentles 
are used, five or six will not be found too many for the 
bait ; the hook being passed laterally through the first 
four or five close to the tail, so as to form a bunch, and 
the last being reserved to cover the point of the hook, 
which should be a No. 5, 6, or 7, according to size and 
depth of water and other circumstances. For the worm- 
tail or greaves a No. 8,9, or 10 hook should be used. 
The method of baiting with worm-tail and greaves is 
described at pp. 226-227. 
The bait should swim jzst clear of the bottom ; when it 
drags along the ground the line is apt to come into 
contact with the noses of intending biters before the 
bait, thus risking the dilemma either of so arousing their 
suspicions as to make them change their mind, or, if 
