ANGLING FOR GUDGBON. 109 



fords tolerable sport to the angler. It is a gregarious 

 fish, and roots among the soft banks with its nose, like 

 a sow. The angling season commences in May, and 

 continues till September. The most approved hours 

 are from day light till ten in the morning, and from 

 four in the afternoon till about sunset. The line 

 should be strong and rather heavily leaded, so that the 

 bait may float about half an inch from the ground. 

 Considerable caution is required in playing this fish, as 

 he is apt to run off, when struck, with great violence, 

 towards some stronghold, and in so doing sometimes 

 breaks both rod and line. He is rather nice in his baits, 

 which must be kept clean and sweet, and untainted 

 by musty moss. Never throw in the bait farther 

 than can be done by a gentle cast of the rod, letting 

 the plumb fall into the water with the least possible 

 noise. It is an error to think that large fish are in the 

 middle of the river ; experience teaches the fallacy of 

 this opinion ; they naturally seek their food near the 

 banks, and agitating the waters by an injudicious 

 management of the plumb will certainly drive them 

 away. It is incredible the quantities of barbel caught 

 by this method. 



ANGLING FOR GUDGEON. 



The gudgeon l is an excellent fish for a beginner in 

 angling to commence with, as he bites freely, and being 

 leather mouthed is never lost when once hooked. 

 These fish delight most in gravelly and sandy ground, 



(1) In Latin, Gubio fluviutilis. 



