246 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGl^ER. 



especial force in the case of the Barbel, which not only 

 lives and feeds on the bottom, but procures its food 

 most commonly by *' rootling" with its nose amongst 

 the gravel and stones, very much as a pig turns up a 

 field with its snout. 



Bottom fishing either by the ordinary method, or in 

 the Nottingham style, are now the fashionable modes of 

 Barbel fishing. The tackle being that already described, 

 but somewhat stronger than usual, as the Barbel is a very 

 hard fighter, not seldom running from five to seven, and 

 even occasionally to ten pounds weight. The best baits 

 are the tail of a lob-worm, greaves, and gentles — their 

 "order of merit" on the average of waters being very 

 much that in which they are here placed. When gentles 

 are used, five or six will not be found too many for the 

 bait ; the hook being passed laterally through the first 

 four or five close to the tail, so as to form a bunch, and 

 the last being reserved to cover the point of the hook,, 

 which should be a No. 5, 6, or 7, according to size and 

 depth of water and other circumstances. For the worm- 

 tail or greaves a No. 8, 9, or 10 hook should be used. 

 The method of baiting with worm-tail and greaves is 

 described at pp. 226-227. 



The bait should swin). just clear ^/ the bottom ; when it 

 drags along the ground the line is apt to come into 

 contact with the noses of intending biters before the 

 bait, thus risking the dilemma either of so arousing their 

 suspicions as to make them change their mind, or, if 



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