268 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART IV 



it : and then tie it on the hook with fine silk. And 

 some advise. To fish for the Barbel, with sheep's tal- 

 low and soft cheese beaten or worked into a paste ; and 

 that it, is choicely good in August, and I believe it. 

 But, doubtless, the lob-worm well- scoured, and the 

 gentle, not too much scoured, and cheese, ordered as 

 I have directed, are baits enough ; and I think will 

 serve in any month : though I shall commend any an- 

 gler that tries conclusions, and is industrious to im- 

 prove the art. And now, my honest scholar ! the long 

 shower, and my tedious discourse, are both ended to- 

 gether : And I shall give you but this observation, 

 that, when you fish for a Barbel, your rod and line be, 

 both, long and of good strength ; for, as I told you, you 

 will find him a heavy, and a dogged, fish to be dealt 

 withal ; yet he seldom or never breaks hold if he be 

 once struck. And if you would know more, of fish* 

 ing [either] for the Umber, or [for the] Barbel*, get 



* Of the haunts of the Barbel, the Author has spoke sufficiently. 

 Barbel spawn, about the middle of April; and grow in season, about 

 a month after. 



Baits for Barbel, other than what Walton has mentioned, are : the 

 young brood of wasps, hornets, and humble bees. 



In fishing for him, use a very strong rod, and a silk line with a shot 

 and a bullet, as directed for the Trout: some use a cork-float; which if 

 you do, be sure to fish as close to the bottom as possible, so as the bait 

 does not touch the ground. 



In angling for lesser fish, the angler will sometimes find it a misfor- 

 tune to hook a Barbel, a fish so sullen, that with fine tackle it is scarcely 

 possible to land one of twelve inches long. 



A lover of angling told me the following story: He 

 Angler caught was fishing in the river Lea, at the ferry called Je- 

 ty a Barbel. remy's ; and had hooked a large fish at the time when 



some Londoners with their horses were passing; they 

 congratulated him on his success, and got out of the ferry-boat ; but' 

 finding the fish not likely to yield, mounted their horses and rode off. 

 The fact was, that angling for small fish, his bait had been taken by a 

 Barbel, too big for the fisher to manage. Not caring to risque his tackle 

 by attempting to raise him, he hoped to tire him, and to that end 

 suffered himself to be led, to use his own expression, as a blind man is by 

 his dog, several yards up, and as many down, the bank of the river; in 

 short, for so many hours, that the horsemen above-mentioned who had 

 been at Walthamstow, and dined were returned: who, seeing him thus.- 

 occupied, cried out, " What, master ! another large" fish ?" " No," say* 

 Piseator t " it is the very same." " Nay," says one of them, " that can 

 " never be ; for it is five hours since we crost the river:" And -ftot be- 

 lieving him, they rode on their way. At length our angler determined 

 to do that which, a less patient one would have done long before; he 



