THE JOLLY ANGLER. 29 



a Roach, only broader ; the fins are of a pale sandy colour, 

 the back and tail inclining to a blueish cast ; the sides and 

 belly of those under a pound in weight are whiter, but not 

 so bright or silvery as the Dace ; when they grow large, 

 (some reach seven or eight pounds,) the scales and colour 

 resemble those of a Carp or large Chub. It has a large 

 eye, the pupil of which is jet black ; the mouth is small, 

 consequently you should bait accordingly. They spawn 

 about the end of April, and you may fish for them early 

 in the morning, and late in the evening, during the summer 

 and autumn, (see " Pond Fishing.") I never angled for 

 Bream in a river, though at Weybridge I have taken one 

 or two about a pound each ; but the way I have seen other 

 anglers try for them I will now describe. They use a bag 

 rod with Roach top, winch, and running line ; the lower 

 line of gut, fine towards the hook, which should be No. 8 

 or 9, strong wire, the float a light quill; (they will then 

 gorge the bait if a worm, as the float offers little resist- 

 ance ; . Bait with a well-scoured small marsh or red worm ; 

 if you bait with gentles or paste, you must strike as soon 

 as you perceive a bite, (the only large one I ever saw 

 caught in a river, was taken with gentles, it weighed 

 4jlbs.) When fishing for Bream or Carp in rivers, some 

 people let the bait lie on the ground, and the float flat on 

 the water ; but I do not think that can be so good a me- 

 thod as when the float lets it play about an inch from or 

 just on the bottom. The only parts fit for Bream fishing 

 are in still broad places, or the bends of rivers, in the 

 eddies where there is little or no stream ; near where cattle 

 go in the water they will harbour ; so will Perch. This 

 description of Bream fishing will answer very well for 

 Carp in rivers, with the addition of such baits as are de- 

 scribed under that head. Now to catch Bream in ponds 

 or still water is a task comparatively easy; you will find 

 it described in " Pond Fishing." Throw in some carrion 

 gentles occasionally, or other ground bait, (see " Ground 

 Bait, Nos. 2 & 3.") It is as well where they run large to 

 ground bait, and plumb your depth over night, if conve- 

 nient, so as to visit the place quietly by day light in the 

 morning, a thing of great consequence when trying for 

 Carp, Tench, &c. You should likewise use ground bait 



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