115 



In such places the prickle- L-acJt, already noticed as an ex- 

 cellent live-bait, abounds to such a degree, as to be taken 

 in whole shoals ; they are sold by the bushel, as manure, 

 both in Lincolnshire and in Cambridgeshire. 



The angler will find, that wherever minnows abound, 

 in suitable waters, there will be plenty of ashes of prey ; 

 provided they are not thinned by the net, or by any un- 

 fair means. On the other hand, he will experience 

 some disappointment, from that very abundance which 

 attracts and maintains the fishes of which he is in pur- 

 suit j for when the minnows have good shelter in shal- 

 lows full of weeds, and in a million of little corners into 

 which their enemies cannot at all times follow them, they 

 become so extremely numerous, that the jacks , trouts, 

 perch, eels, &c. are glutted, and are not to be enticed by 

 the bait, however lively and tempting. 



Here much judgment and skill are requisite j yet, after 

 all, a complete bungler may perchance light on a lucky- 

 spot, and fill his basket, while the most expert angler 

 may scarcely have one bite ! 



Hence we sometimes see the former obtain a credit 

 for ability he does not possess ; while the qualifications 

 of the latter are not known j and this is perfectly natural ; 

 for the contents of the basket should decide the point. 

 I never yet heard any person talk much of the number of 

 birds he winged, or otherwise wounded, that could ge- 

 nerally put a brace on the table. 



In many large streams, which have periodical rises, or 

 are subject to floods at such periods, and are liable to be 

 worn by die force of the current, piles are driven in, and 

 lined with boards, &o. these are known in various places 

 by different names, but almost universally, I believe, by 



the 



