112 PRACTICAL LESSONS IN RIVER ANGLING. 



bottom. He will take almost any bait, but a red-earth 

 worm or small brandling is to be preferred. The 

 ground ought first to be baited with two or three hand- 

 fuls of earth. Some use a paternoster line with five or 

 six hooks according to the depth of the water; but 

 when a little muddy the ruffs will bite at all depths. 



The loach l , stone-roach, or beardie, is of a delicate 

 taste and very wholesome ; it breeds and feeds in 

 little, clear, swift, gravelly brooks or rills. In growth, it 

 is not above a finger's length, and somewhat resembles 

 the eel in shape, and has a beard or wattles. This fish 

 is esteemed very nourishing and grateful to the palate 

 and stomach of sick persons. He is fished for with a 

 very small worm at the bottom, for he seldom or never 

 rises above the gravel. 



The bull-head or miller's thumb 2 is an odd-looking 

 small fish, having much the same habits as the loach. 

 They spawn in the gravel from April on through the 

 summer. The hook No. 13, with a red worm, is the 

 best for taking it. 



The flounder 3 or fluke is a small flat fish, not un- 

 common in the mouths of rivers, but seldom found far 

 from the sea. It grows to the length of a foot, but is 

 usually not half that size. The season for fishing is 

 from April to August. The hook No. 7, whipped on a 

 single line, and baited with worms or gentles, is used 

 in this sport. 



(1) In Latin, Gobitis barbatula. 



(2) Tn Latin, Coitus Gobio. 



(3) In Latin, Platessa fiuviatilis. 



