124 THE PRACTICAL FFSHERMAN. 



Xow, as to its use. I would it were possible to communicate by 

 "word o' mouth" the numerous niceties of this "Nottingham style." 

 One of the principal difficulties experienced by the ordinary angler is 

 the manipulation of the rod as to striking, &c., with the left hand 

 whilst the right controls the reel. The rod must not be held under 

 any circumstances whatsoever in the right hand, but sustained between 

 the left and the hip, or, in light rods, between the left hand and the 

 stomach ; and then the artful movements the proper guidance of the 

 longline produces on the float, causing it to circle in the "chubby" 

 corners of the bank and round eddies inaccessible by any other means ; 

 steering very close but just clear of the dangerous root or stump ; 

 securely floating between the Scylla and Charybdis of two opposite posts 

 all this is incommunicable by word-painting, and, as the reporters say, 

 "can be better imagined than described " in fact, indeed, must be 

 seen to be understood. 



However, the tyro may expeot a fair measure of success if he follows 

 the directions I am about to give. Having procured the rod and 

 tackle above described, let him order of his butcher some bullock's 

 brains and pith or spinal cord, and of his grocer some cheese. I 

 am referring to autumn and early winter especially, it must be borne 

 in mind. Let him proceed to Datchet, and, after procuring a pant, 

 pass on, by "shooting" the Old Windsor Weir, to the back-water 

 succeeding, yclept the "Fleet" the right hand bank I know to 

 abound with chub and he has only to very quietly and carefully 

 attach his punt to the boughs, and, taking some of the cheese afore- 

 said in his mouth, let him chew it small and blow it out, so that it 

 falls in very minute pieces in a shower. There is a reason for this. 

 Chub are gross feeders, and the tiny pieces attract them but by no means 

 satisfy. After an interval during which perfect quiet is the word 

 Piscator cuts some pieces of cheese about a quarter of an inch wide 

 and half an inch long, and impales a piece on the hook the hook 

 protruding. Gently it falls in the water, gently, so gently, the light 

 quill floats like a leaf down stream, the line passing glibly through the 

 rings on on it is fifteen twenty yards off, when down goes the 

 float. Piscator strikes vigorously, the fish is hooked, and now ensues 

 the "tug of war." 



The chub, a three-pounder, perchance, comes racing up-stream, and 

 he is reeled in just in time by the rapidly running reel to prevent his 

 "loggerhead" diving amongst the de b ris of the bank. But the tackle 

 is strong, if light, and the rod is reliable, if pliant, so the finality is, 

 that, aided by his own skill, my representative Piscator lands his first 

 three pound chub from Wraysbury Fleet. If he, in the course of the 



