THE CnCB.] 



ANGLING. 



[the ndAcn. 



tan is mixed, and ho will blto also at a ainuller 

 worm with his head nipped ofl", atul a Bod- 

 worin put on the hook befiire that worn) ; and 

 I doubt not but he will also, in the three hot 

 months — for in the nine colder ho Btirs not 

 much — bite at a Ihig-worm, or a green gentle; 

 but ean positively say no more of the teneh, 

 he being a lish tliat I have not often angled 

 for; but I wish my honest scholar may, and 

 be ever fortunate when he 6shed." 



THE BARBEL. 



This " bearded fish" (so called from x,..« cirri 

 at its mouth) is pretty common throughout 

 Europe, although it is not known in Scotland. 

 Mr. Jesse tells us that it is an extremely 

 sly fish ; although in the spring, when sup- 

 posed free from observation, it will roll itself 

 about, and exhibit a considerable degree of 

 playfulness. He also remarks, that, in very 

 cold weather, it appears to be in a perfectly 

 torpid state. " They make their hybernaculum 

 amidst tufts of weeds at the bottom of the 

 Tliumes, apparently either asleep or insensible. 

 Indeed, so torpid are they, that they may be 

 taken up by the hand. In very cold weather, 

 the fishermen provide themselves with a net 

 fastened to an iron hoop, having a handle to it, 

 which they place near the fish, and, with a 

 pole, put it into the net, so perfectly inanimate 

 are tliey at this season." The barbel is rather 

 particular in the baits he will take ; they must, 

 therefore, be kept clean and sweet, and be un- 

 tainted with the scent of musty moss. The 

 angling season begins in May, and continues 

 till September; and the best hours are from 

 daylight till tea in the morning, and from 

 four in the afternoon till sunset. 



THE CHUB. 



This fish is common both in England and 

 Wales. It is also found in the waters of 

 Annan, Scotland, and in many parts of the 

 neighbourhood of the English lake country. It 

 is called the Skelly, because of the largeness of 

 its scales. In the deep holes of rivers it is 

 found; and, during the summer months, 

 commonly lies on the water's surface, enjoying 

 the shade of some bush or tree. Timidity 

 ^eing one of its principal characteristics, it 

 sinks to the bottom on the slightest alarm, 

 although it will soon again resume its position. 

 a N 



It will fine nt a fly, and feeds generally oa 

 worms and inspects. The baits employed are 

 beetles, maL'gotH, grasslioppcra, iialinon-roe, 

 &c. It is called by Pennant a coarse fish ; but 

 one of tlto best ways of preparing it for the 

 table is by boiling it with the bcalca on. 



THE DACE. 



This fish is known in some parts of England 

 under the designations of the dure and the 

 dart : it bears a strong resemblance, both in 

 its appearance and habits, to those of the 

 roach. It is gregarious, and frequents the 

 deep waters close by the piles of bridges, or 

 beneath masses of collected foam caused by 

 rapid eddies, or in shady pools. Tliey are 

 taken with the red-worm, brandlings, &c. ; 

 but will rise at a variety of flies. In the 

 Thames, above Ilichmond, as soon as the 

 weeds begin to rot, they will rise freely from 

 the shallows to a grasshopper, used as an arti- 

 ficial fly in hot weather. 



THE ROACH. 



The common roach (Z. rufilus), which 

 Walton designates the icater-shcfp, on account 

 of its simplicity or foolishness. This fish is 

 common to many parts of England, as well as 

 to the ten)perate parts of Europe. It is rarer 

 in Scotland, and haunts still rivers and lakes, 

 confining itself, during the day, to the deeper 

 parts, and, in the night, feeding in the shallows. 

 During the winter it seeks other haunts, and 

 in the months of May and June ascends the 

 shallows to spawn. The proper season for 

 roach fishing in the Thames, where it grows 

 to a larger size than in any other river, begins 

 about the end of August ; and "Walton tells 

 us to fish for it in winter, with paste or gen- 

 tles ; in April, with worms or caddis ; in the 

 very hot months, with little white snails, or 

 with flies under water. In many of the hot 

 months roaches may also be caught thus: — 

 "Take a May-fly, or ant-fly ; sink him, with a 

 little lead, to the bottom, near the piles or 

 posts of a bridge, or near to any posts of a 

 weir ; I mean, any deep place where K>ache8 

 lie quietly;. and theu pull your fly up very 

 leisurely, and usually a roach will follow your 

 bait to the very top of the water, and gaze on 

 it there, and run at it and take it, lest the fly 

 should fly away from him." This is from old 



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