BOTTOM-FISHING. 41 



causing some anxiety and labour. The Thames 

 abound with them ; there are also some very 

 fine ones in the Lea : they are a handsome fish, 

 but coarse, therefore considered of little or no 

 value for table. 



In the Thames, Barbel are mostly angled for 

 in punts, with a short stout hickory rod (num- 

 bers of which are constantly kept at the Golden 

 Perch, 52, Strand), winch, fine eight-plait run- 

 ning line, stout gut bottom, large quill float, 

 and No. 8 hook, baited with greaves, or well 

 scoured marsh worm. Leger fishing is a very 

 successful way of fishing for Barbel you then 

 use any common stout rod, winch, and thirty 

 or forty yards of strong running line without a 

 float, and No. 6 hook, baited as before. About 

 ten or twelve inches above the hook is placed 

 a flat piece of lead, it is then cast in and the 



