264 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



I was at school that blessed time of birch before breakfast, drubbings 

 before dinner, and tears before tea. A poor friendless boy was the butt 

 of the school, and, whenever he was knocked down, up rose the cry of 

 * Oh ! kick him what fun ! he's no friends.' And this seems to me the 

 case among other animals. In domestic poultry the injured hen is 

 pecked at on all sides ; the wounded stag is driven from the herd to die 

 in solitude. The unfortunate of the feathered, furred, and every other 

 race are either scorned or hunted, often both. The scaly tribe affords 

 no exception. I have several times seen a minnow or small dace that 

 was either marked by some accident, or had, no doubt from injury of one 

 kind or other, an odd waddling sort of motion in swimming, seized upon 

 by a trout in the midst of its fellows who were in full health, vigour, and 

 beauty ; close past all of these rushed this fish of prey, and gobbled up 

 his damaged morsel with great apparent gusto." 



My experience and observation exactly coincide with the foregoing 

 exposition. I am persuaded that, except in a few cases, the trout really 

 mistakes a spinning bait for a wounded fish. The exceptions to this 

 rule, in which he takes anomalous creatures, suggesting no semblance 

 to a fish such as a spoon bait painted red are to be explained in the 

 same manner as that employed by me in accounting for the taking by a 

 salmon of a grilse or salmon fly. 



But to proceed with the subject. First, as is my wont, let me describe 

 the beau iddal of tackle. The rod for brook trout spinning ought to be 

 lighter than that necessary for Thames trout fishing (described further 

 on) ; in fact, that used for worm fishing, if, as I enjoined, the rings be 

 made distinctly large, will do capitally. A three-joint bamboo, of about 

 14ft., is a useful rod for all angling. So I advise my readers to select 

 one from a good maker, and have two or three extra tops made for them. 

 In such case they can fish either with blow line, or dopping, or with the 

 worm or spin, as opportunity presents or occasion requires. For my own 

 part, I use the Nottingham- built rod and throw from the reel ; the reel 

 and line being of course of the Nottingham make also. Mr. Francis 

 recommends the finest dressed eight-plait line, or even Derby twist. The 

 former line is right, but a twist line is very apt to kink and render itself 

 a complete nuisance unless it be thrown from the reel. If the line is 

 used in the ordinary way, by drawing out and coiling, a winch is to 

 be preferred, and a dressed line is indispensable. I occasionally find 

 this style preferable to the other, and in that event coil the line almost 

 invariably in my hand left or right, as required. A throw can, in such 

 case, be made from ten to twenty yards, always supposing, of course, as 

 Dr. Lynn would say, " you know how." 



In choosing the trace I contrive in all cases to taper it, and its length 



