FRESH-WATER FISHES 219 



when coming from the meadows to the farm. I 

 have often taken my stand there on an early mid- 

 summer morning when the light vapour floated like 

 smoke over the meadows and water, having had leave 

 from the farmer to fish there. As the sun got up 

 and cleared the light vapour away you would see 

 large back fins show above the surface of the water ? 

 and the leaves of the lily plants move up and down ; 

 then broad tails as the fish nozzled in the weeds for 

 their food. Tracks are made in the weeds by the 

 movements of the fish, so that there are nice openings 

 to drop the line in. 



I get well-scoured red worms for bait ; nice and 

 lively they are ; my line for the first part is made of 

 gut, for about three yards ; the other portion is twisted 

 silk, the float a small piece of cork about the size and 

 shape of a large acorn. Now I am ready ; the lively 

 worm is gently dropped ; it descends between the 

 weeds, and the float rests lightly on the water, 

 trembles, bobs once, twice, thrice, and then goes 

 under ; I strike and find I am into a good one. 

 Steering him clear of the heavy masses of weed, after 

 a few sharp turns I bring him to the edge of the pool, 

 and soon place him in the basket. Presently there 

 are a couple of brace of large ones there ; as many as 

 I require ; for fishing, not slaughter, is my object. I 



