'200 THE BARBEL. 



kept in a vivarium states, that " the barbel were the shyest and 

 seemed the most impatient of observation, 'although, in the spring 

 when they could not perceive any one watching them, they would 

 roll about and rub themselves against the brickwork, and show 

 considerable playfulness.'* He also adds, " there were some large 

 stones, round which they would wind their spawn in considerable 

 quantities." It may therefore be said of them, that if owing to 

 their groundgrubbing propensities they are not possessed of high 

 intellectual powers they are abundantly supplied with caution com- 

 bined with an ample portion of low cunning, which increases with 

 their age ; a sly old barbel having a very cunning method of suck- 

 ing the baits off by means of his protuberant fleshy lips, without 

 letting the hook into his mouth, whilst the angler, congratulating 

 himself that he has at last got a bite, in order to make sure gives 

 the fish time enough to secure all that is profitable, which the lat- 

 ter having availed himself of, leaves the bare hook for the angler 

 to rebait at his leisure, just a crafty usurer cozens away the prop- 

 erty of an expectant heir, who is weak enough to expect any 

 solid pecuniary supplies frora so tainted a source. 



In angling for this crafty fish a long rod will be indispensable, 

 as also a due portion of line, which must be as fine as possible, 

 consistent with the strength that will be required in the manage- 

 ment of so powerful a fish : there must also be a gut footline, the 

 upper links of which may be of three strands twisted, for three 

 do not make a greater show in the water than two, and must of 

 course be one third the stronger ; the two lower links next the 

 hook should be only of single gut, but sound and clean, and should 

 be shifted before they become over worn with use. A double 

 swivel should be fastened to some portion of the footline, and as 

 these fish generally feed on the swift gravelly scowers, the line 

 must be somewhat heavily leaded. Some of the barley corn shaped 

 leads placed at intervals, if the force of the current is not too 

 great, will be the best for the purpose ; but if the stream is so 

 powerful that these are insufficient to sink the bait to the bottom, 

 then a bullet with a hole drilled so that the line may be drawn 

 through it when a fish bites, but which by a shot, firmly fixed 

 about a yard and a half or more from the bait, must be kept from 

 approaching nearer to bait ; in addition to which, a pellet or two 

 on the footline beyond will generally be required. The bait should 

 always be cast in some distance above where the fish is supposed 



