THE BLEAK. 135 



high class sport will be had, yet the bleak is by no means destitute of 

 fighting power, and if very fine hair tackle be nsed, the angler may 

 derive some very agreeable pastime. Indeed, I know of no fish which is 

 likely to sharpen the piscatorial faculties of a yonthfnl angler more effec- 

 tually than fishing for these fish with the fly. An artificial black gnat 

 tipped with a gentle, or piece of white kid, is very killing, but a gentle, 

 caddis worm, or natural insect will all be effectual. I hold a brief for 

 small fry fishing. I am always pleased with it under certain conditions, 

 and I am sure it is as necessary that the angler, if he would be a perfect 

 brother of the craft, should know how to catch his bait as that he should 

 know how to put it on his hook or hooks. There are times in summer 

 when anything but bleak or some other small fry angling is out of the 

 question, and then it is that many an hour may be pleasurably employed 

 which otherwise would be swallowed up in languid, unhealthy ennui, if 

 the angler will but turn his attention to the exquisite minutiae of bleak 

 fishing. 



The pleasant'st angling is to see the fish 

 Cut with her golden oars the silver stream 

 And greedily devour the treach'rous bait, 



sings the immortal angler-poet of Avon, and it matters not whether he 

 referred to bleak fishing or not, the verse is true, and may be applied to 

 it. I speak for myself, anyhow, and I affirm I have experienced more real 

 enjoyment in watching the white gentle and the darting agile "willow- 

 blade ' ' in the translucent water of summer than in the capture of many 

 a sturdy barbel or voracious pike. 



The chief haunts of bleak in rivers are in eddies caused by strong 

 rushing streams ; in fact, anywhere where a Thames trout might be 

 supposed to be there you will find bleak. A striking instance this of 

 the " eternal fitness of things." 



