THE JOLLY ANGLER. 23 



anglers, and by them more esteemed than any other small 

 fish ; they average, when full grown, about 1 1 ounces in 

 weight, though some are larger ; the colour of its back is 

 light brown, mottled with large spots of a darker tint, 

 which get lighter on the sides as they approach the belly, 

 which is of a dirty white, or purple tinge. They are caught 

 in the Lea near London, and in the Thames, as fine as any 

 where I know of ; here they are very abundant during the 

 season, which commences in March, and ends towards the 

 close of May, or beginning of June, though they will con- 

 tinue to feed all the summer, but aie not so good after 

 they have spawned, which they do in May and June. When 

 angling expressly for Gudgeons, which you may do with a 

 good chance of success in the Rivers Thames, Lea, Mole, 

 Colne, (and the upper parts of the New River, though here 

 they run small) use the following tackle; a bag rod with 

 a light fine top, a cane one if you have it ; if in the New 

 River the same tackle as described for Minnows, only the 

 hook a trifle larger, say No. 11, fine wire, with one or two 

 blood worms for the bait ; in the Lea, Colne, or Mole, a 

 fine quill float that will carry about six or seven small 

 shot, with a fine twisted hair line, the two bottom lengths 

 single hair, the hook and bait the same as before, or a 

 small red worm will do; if not a very small one, break it, 

 and use part only, for if any part is off the hook you will 

 not get the fish when he bites. When you angle for them 

 in the Thames, use a No. 10 hook, and a larger float, the 

 stream running too quick for a light one; I should prefer 

 a tipped cap float, such as is used here for Roach and Dace ; 

 the same tackle as recommended for that purpose will do, 

 as you are apt sometimes to catch Perch or Barbel when 

 you are trying for Gudgeons. Under these circumstances 

 a single hair line is hazardous, even for an experienced 

 angler, though, when the water is bright, an expert hand 

 with hair will catch more fish than one equally clever can 

 with fine gut. Having your tackle ready, proceed to some 

 scour where the bottom is gravelly, and plumb your depth 

 so that your bait may just drag on the ground, Gudgeons 

 lying close to the bottom. Most Gudgeon fishers use an 



