130 HINTS ON ANGLING. 



favourable spots for his casts. The water in likely places 

 cannot be fished too closely. Fish are very easily missed ; 

 and therefore, in favourable water, almost every square 

 inch should be worked over. Weeds will give the troller 

 but little trouble, if he be careful to lay the barbs of the 

 hook close to the cheeks of his bait, and to turn the 

 points downward. Keep your bait clean, and preserve it 

 from being bruised, if possible; as the pike, with all his 

 voracity, is occasionally particular. If fishing in a pond 

 or lake, you may make your casts as far and wide as you 

 please; although we do not believe your chance of success 

 will be better on that account. Take care that the bait 

 falls gently on the water, except in windy weather; and 

 then it does not signify how much splash you make; 

 perhaps the more the better. But if you are fishing in a 

 navigable river, up and down which boats are perpetually 

 passing, you cannot fish too close to the side. Eighteen 

 inches, or two feet from the bank, provided the water be 

 not too shallow, is quite far enough out in such waters. 

 We have seen this proved to demonstration over and over 

 again. A French officer, quartered at Calais in the sum- 

 mer of 1844, a very skilful troller an accomplishment 

 by the way somewhat unusual in a Frenchman never 

 fished more than two feet from the side in navigable 

 water however broad, and he was most successful. His 

 tackle was peculiar. His lines and hooks were remarkably 

 small ; and his rod was very light indeed, very little re- 

 moved from a fly-rod, bending and springing when he 

 hooked a large fish like a switch. Notwithstanding this 

 tackle, which we should scarcely recommend, Captain 

 Guillaume, of the 54th, understands the art right well, 

 being a most skilful brother of the craft, and withal an 

 amiable excellent man. 



