142 HINTS ON ANGLING. 



enough on him to stimulate his exertions, and you arc 

 sure of him; his very strength and vigour will soon tire 

 him, and you may then draw him out with security. 



Carp bite freely from February until June, and may 

 then be caught at all times of the day. From June to 

 September they bite well morning and evening. After 

 this it is useless to fish for them with a line until 

 February again. In the heats of summer, the night is 

 unquestionably the most favourable season for killing this 

 shy fish. You can see nothing, but then you cannot be 

 seen ; and the jerk of the line will infallibly tell you when 

 you have got a fish. 



As the bait, in carp-fishing should touch the bottom, 

 some fumblers recommend the water to be previously 

 plumbed. This is useless; it disturbs the water, and 

 affords no information which your own line will not give 

 you in two minutes. 



It is recommended also to ground-bait the spot where 

 you intend to fish, some hours before you commence 

 operations. This is a dirty unsportsmanlike process, very 

 well for cockneys and punt-fishers, who seem to revel in 

 preparing filthy composts of blood, grease, garbage, 

 chickens' guts, etc., but utterly unworthy of the genuine 

 angler. For the edification, however, of those who prac- 

 tise these nauseous and unskilful tricks, we subjoin the 

 following recipe, which was given to us by a keeper 

 who put great confidence in it; and invariably used it 

 when he wanted carp for the table. 



" Take a quantity of well-cooked veal, a handful of 

 oatmeal, and a little honey, bruise them in a mortar, and 

 mix them into a thin paste or batter, with new milk 

 and a few drops of assa&etida. 



u Crush down in a mortar a quantity of worms, gentles, 



