CHUB-FISHING 137 
deeper water ; but, if the weather be warm, large ones may 
be taken by casting from a boat under the boughs of trees on 
the river bank. A large red palmer, or a grilse fly, will be 
found as attractive as anything else. The fish at that season 
are in the highest condition of which they are capable ; firm 
and bright as a salmon-trout, and fighting most creditably 
for freedom. 
Of the other methods of taking chub, the chief are the 
tight float and the travelling float, as has been described 
under the heads of barbel and roach. Orthodox chub-fishing 
is of the same nature as roach-fishing, only more so—that 
is, you may use rather stronger tackle, and travel your float 
further off in “long-corking.” To do this successfully re- 
quires a light, strong silken line, well greased, to make it 
float flexibly, with a mixture of Aspinall’s green enamel and 
vaseline. As for baits, there is positively no limit to the 
variety of successful ones; not even that of edibility, for 
Mr. Wheeley records the capture of a mighty chub with a 
gummy chestnut bud, and for winter fishing he recommends 
“pith and brains ”’—that is, a judicious ground-baiting with 
bullock’s brains, following by the presentation as bait of a 
piece of the “ pith,” or spinal cord of the animal. Lob- 
worms, shrimps, bread, cheese, mutton-fat, minnows, and 
macaroni—all these are greedily taken when the fish are on 
the feed. In the Thames, where picnic parties do greatly 
abound, chub have acquired a passion for cherries, and 
Mr. Wheeley declares that a large white-heart or Bigaroon 
generally proves irresistible. He mentions an_ incident 
curiously illustrating the peculiar habits of this fish. A 
large damson-tree overhung the river near Pangbourne. 
One windy day, when the fruit was ripe, an angler happened 
that way, and noticed a fine company of chub greedily 
gulping the damsons blown off the tree into the water. 
He took the hint, and, using damsons as bait, made a very 
large catch. 
