TO SUM ITP. 11 



to excite the suspicions of the fish by showing themselves 

 more than needful, by tramping the banks, by disturbing the 

 water, by casting a shadow over the fish, or by dragging the 

 bait through the water more often than is absolutely necessary. 

 The bait should sink as slowly and as naturally as possible (except 

 in punt-fishing in a strong stream, when it has to sink quickly) ; 

 it should not, with certain exceptions, be checked in its course 

 down stream, and should generally be worked close to the bottom. 

 The swims which are likely to contain the most fish should be 

 chosen, and the angler will, if he be wise, go after the fish which 

 are most likely to be on the feed. My dearest friend cannot per- 

 suade me to jack fish in the middle of a hot summer's day, though 

 I will gladly catch gudgeon or fly-fish for chub with him; 

 nor, on the other hand, can he induce me to gudgeon fish 

 in November, when I know I am likely to do well with the 

 jack. Going after the wrong fish is one of the most common 

 mistakes with beginners. 



The matters I have so far written about are well worth patient 

 study, for when the general principles of angling are mastered 

 the rest comes veiy easy, and the angler, instead of working 

 by rule of thumb, understands the why and the wherefore 

 of what he does, or is directed to do, and acquires the 

 power of meeting any difficulties which may arise. The mere 

 hooking and landing a fish are comparatively simple matters, 

 acquired in a few months' practice. The great difficulties in 

 bottom fishing are to find the fish, and, when they are found, 

 to induce them to take the bait offered to them. In fishing, 

 as in most other matters, common sense will be found of great 

 service ; but it must be confessed that fish are eccentric animals, 

 and often act in a way "no fellah can understand." 



