THE JOLLY ANGLER. 



45 



among weeds, &c. When I come to a 

 likely place I strike the spear twice, in the 

 shape of a cross, thus 

 by which means I have N * 



often speared one the ^ ^ 



second time, from the ^'x 

 direction the Eel has lain S N 



in; for, observe, when * ^ 



laid up in mud they lie straight, at full 

 length. Another method of taking large 

 Eels is by the Ledger (see " Ledger Fish- 

 ing")} your hook for this purpose should 

 be the common wire or gimp Eel hook, baited with a small 

 fish, exactly similar to the gorge hook, (see " Trolling,") 

 only no lead on the shank ; the best baits for this purpose 

 are small gudgeon, bleak, loach, or a small piece of lam- 

 prey, which is a fish I cannot describe the method of 

 catching, never having seen one taken, though I believe 

 there are some in the Thames. 



THE GRAYLING, OR UMBER. 



It is not the London angler's good fortune to meet with 

 any of these lively fish without travelling far from home; 

 but taken in either point of view, as sport for the angler, 

 or food for the epicure, the Grayling is no contemptible 

 companion. Its habits are similar to the Trout, delighting 

 in sharps, scours, and mill-tails, feeding upon flies, gentles, 

 small worms, &c. and are taken with a well-scoured red 

 worm (see "Strolling"), and flies (see " Fly fishing"). 

 They are of a bright silvery colour, and, when in season, 



