PLUMBING THE DEPTH. 37 



one reason, no doubt, being that in case of a flood there is a safe 

 place for them in the eddy always to be found at the tail of an 

 island. 



We soon arrive opposite the eyot. The bank on which we 

 stand is steep, and there is probably a good depth of water close 

 under it. At one point a few reeds grow, then comes a gap, then 

 a few more reeds. Between the two reed-beds is just the place 

 for roach, if only the depth and bottom are suitable for float-fish- 

 ing. To test the swim, I attach the float tackle, shown on page 25, 

 to the end of my ninning line, fasten a plummet to the hook, and 

 let it into the water. The plummet sinks sharply, and bits the 

 ground with a knock — the bottom is good. With a very little prac- 

 tice the difference between a mud and a hard bottom can thus be 

 easily determined, unless the water is very deep. For plumbing 

 in deep water anglers sometimes scoop a hollow in the bottom 

 of the plummet, and fill it with tallow, to which the sand, gravel, 

 or mud, as the case may be, sticks. The depth I find to be 

 about 6ft., and by plumbing at three different spots, a yard 

 apart, I find that the bottom is fairly level. All this while I 

 have been careful not to show myself more than is necessary, 

 and pursue my investigations very quietly ; neither have I 

 shaken the bank by heavy footfalls. The sun is in my face, so 

 that my shadow is not thrown into the water. While I was taking 

 the line off the winder I stood some distance back from the 

 river, and it was not until my float tackle was fastened on to the 

 running line that I sat on my basket, just opposite the top of 

 the swim, and commenced to plumb the depth. While thus 

 examining the swim, I was careful to do what is usually the first 

 operation in float-fishing, namely, adjust my float to a proper 

 distance from the hook. As a general rule, when the plummet is 

 on the bottom, and — the line being held taut — the top of the float 

 is just level with the surface of the water, the float is in its right 

 place on the line. Unfortunately, the swim is deeper lower down 

 than it is opposite to me, so I had to put my float higher up the 

 line ; for it is much more important to have the right depth in the 

 middle and end of the swim than at the commencement. Before 

 commencing to fish I take a wooden lucifer match, split it in 

 half, and tie a small portion of it on to the running line, about 



