THE THAMES ANGLES. 2] 



angler should be able to bind on a hook ; and for this purpose 

 he has always in his book some cobblers' wax and silk. 

 We pass to 



FLOATS, 



which should, of course, be adapted to the water you are fishing 

 in, and to the nature of your baits : if the stream be sharp, the 

 float must be calculated to carry a larger number of shot than 

 if you were angling in still water, as otherwise it will be carried 

 away in all directions, and the bait would not touch the bottom ; 

 but never use a heavier float than is really necessary, because the 

 less shot you have on your line the better, for the less is it likely 

 to be seen. The line should be shotted bo as to leave only so 

 much of the float out of water as to be just visible, particularly 

 in roach fishing, as they bite extremely fine. The shot should 

 not be large, and the last one should be placed about four 

 inches from the hook. In live-bait fishing for perch and jack. 

 the float must of course be larger, whether there he stream or 

 not. as tli-.' bait is apt to be pulled down. Y<»u need only weight 

 it sufficiently to make it stand on the water, and a spinning lead 

 or small roll plummet may he used instead of shot. The most 

 pleasant float for general Thames fishing is that made of cork, 

 with a porcupine's <piill through it, with a small brass ring on 

 the lower end. and a rap oil the top: a half hitch of line under 

 this top cap prevents the gut from slipping down, and thereby 

 altering the depth, and it also keeps the float the same distance 

 from the hook, should the cap come <>ft' or split, as is sometimes 

 the case, and then you are compelled to plumh again. There 

 is a float called a Nottingham <■ . that regulates itself 



according to the depth of the stream : it is very useful in 

 travelling for Barbel. 

 We lastly have 



BAITS; 



and for the moment putting aside artificial Hies, live-baits for 

 jack and perch, and spinning and trolling baits, which will be 

 mentioned under the chapters on Trout. Jack, and Perch, I begin 

 with the worm. The largest of these, the lob or dew-worm, may 

 be taken at night with the assistance of a lantern on any lawn 

 or green where the grass is short, more particularly after a wet 

 day ; and if the weather is very hot and dry a number of pails 

 of water may be thrown down during the afternoon, and these 



