THE JOLLY ANGLER. 35 



8 shot, which should be put only two inches above your 

 hook ; then bring your float down within 2 or 3 inches of 

 your shot ; bait with a caterpillar or well-scoured red 

 worm : thus prepared, proceed to the places where the 

 broad-leaved wild water-lily or candock weed grows, which 

 is plentiful in most waters where Carp and Tench breed ; 

 here they swim about close to the top of the water, suck- 

 ing and making a noise that is plainly distinguished, fre- 

 quently their back fins above the surface; I have at this 

 season taken them out with my landing net, as well as 

 shot them with a gun; (query, is that shooting or fishing?) 

 but to return to the subject of angling for them with the 

 rod and line just described; you must let your hook, which 

 should be a strong No. 8, with the worm, fall in between 

 the leaves where they grow thick, your shot will push 

 down the bait; when a fish bites, he will take it straight 

 down ; you must strike immediately, and weigh him out, 

 or these weeds, which are very strong, will cause you to 

 lose him ; by this plan you perceive that your bait is only 

 four inches from the bottom of your float, but less will do, 

 as they swim quite close to the top at this season of the 

 year. By the same means I have taken a great many Tench, 

 at all hours of the day, using a well-scoured marsh worm ; 

 but the most common method of taking Carp and Tench 

 you will find under the head of " Pond Fishing." The 

 baits for Carp are red worms, the green caterpillar found 

 on cabbages in May and June, paste made of new bread 

 dipped in honey and well worked up, (see " Baits,") and 

 gentles. My own method of catching Carp in ponds is 

 to get two or three quarts of carrion gentles, throw in a 

 quantity, (see " Ground baits," Nos. 2, 3, and 4,) and 

 bait with two or three of the best; in this case, living 

 near the water, I used to plumb my depth, and ground-bait 

 one or two places over-night ; but I must acknowledge 

 angling for Carp is often attended with disappointment ; you 

 have a better chance of taking Tench, as they are not 

 equally cunning with Carp; in short it is a fish so difficult 

 to obtain a dish of by angling, and to my tasle so little 

 worth when got, that I do not wonder at there being very 

 fe\v persons attempt it- 

 There is a species of this fish called Prussian Carp, very 

 similar to the foregoing in shape and colour, (having no 



