^O THE BREAM 



have frequently seen these anglers hang the hook into the 

 top of a gatepost and test the strength of the line, by a 

 series of strong pulls. About an hour before sunset, our 

 rustic village angler, with pole on his shoulder, a large pail 

 of brewers grains, and an old sack and stable lantern, pro- 

 ceeds down to the swim, which is generally the deepest and 

 quietest hole he can find. With the help of a rail or an 

 hedge-stake, in the absence of a spade, a few lumps of clay 

 or old pollard are grubbed up from the banks, and mixed 

 with the grains, until he has fromi twenty to thirty balls, as 

 big as cocoa-nuts. These are dropped in one by one, fall- 

 ing into the water with a sounding splash. A hook and 

 crutch are next looked up, and stuck in the bank about a 

 couple of feet from, each other; these articles are to rest the 

 rod on, the crutch being a forked stick, while the hook is 

 another stout stick with a hook at the end, these articles 

 are usually cut from the nearest willow tree. The crutch 

 is stuck in the ground as near the edge of the water as 

 possible, the hook being eighteen inches to two feet behind 

 it; the extreme butt end of the pole is put under the hook, 

 and then dropped on the fork of the crutch, in such a man- 

 ner that the rod projects straight above the surface. This 

 contrivance does away with the necessity of holding the rod 

 in the hand; the depth is next taken by hanging a heavy 

 plummet on the hook ; allowing some six inches or so, so 

 that the bait lies well on the bottom. After fixing the float 

 firmly on the line at its proper place, an old tin containing 

 a supply of worms (brandlings generally), freshly dug out 

 of the manure heap, is produced from the side pocket of 

 his old jacket. TwO' or three of these wonns, according to 

 size are threaded on the hook, and flop, the heavily weighted 

 tackle, and big float drops on the water with a splash. 

 After fixing the pole on the hook and crutch, the old pail in 

 which he carried the grains is turned bottomi upwards, and 

 an old sack doubled up on the top, forms a seat ; this seat 

 being fixed so that the rod is near to his right hand, ready 

 for immediate action if he gets a bite. Our rustic angler 

 now in all probability, smokes the pipe of peace, and con- 

 templates that motionless float, until it gets too dark to see 

 it. The lantern now plays a prominent part in the pro- 



