CHAP. XIV. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 269 



into favour with Dr. Sheldon*, whose skill is above 



made one vigorous effort to land his fish, broke his tackle, and lost 

 him. 



Fishing for Barbel; is, at best, but a dull recreation. They are a 

 sullen fish, 'and bite but slowly. The angler drops in his bait; the 

 bullet at the bottom of the line fixes it to one spot of the river : Tired 

 with waiting for a bite, he generally lays down his rod, raid exercising 

 the patience of a setting-dog, waits till he sees the top of his rod 

 move; then begins a struggle between him and the fish, which he calls 

 his sport ; and that being over, he lands his prize, fresh baits his hook, 

 and lays in for another. 



Living some years ago in a village on the banks of 

 the Thames, I was used in the summer months to be Patience of a 



much in a boat on the river. It chanced that at Barbel Angler. 

 Shepperton, where I had been for a few days, I fre- 

 quently passed an elderly gentleman in his boat ; who appeared to be 

 fishing, at different stations, for Barbel. After a few salutations had 

 passed between us, and we were become a little acquainted ; I took oc- 

 casion to enquire of him what diversion he had met with : " Sir," says 

 he, " I have had but bad luck to-day, for I fish for Barbel, and you 

 " know they are not to be caught like Gudgeons." " It is very true," 

 answered I; " but what you want in tale, I suppose you make up in 

 " weight." " Why, Sir," says he, " that is just as it happens; it is true, 

 " I like the sport, and love to catch fish, but my great delight is in going 

 " after them. I'll tell you what, Sir," continued he ; I am a man in 

 " years ; and have used the sea all my life, [he had been an India captain,] 

 " but I mean to go no more ; and have bought that little house which 

 * c you see there," [pointing to it,] " for the sake of fishing: I get into this 

 " boat" [which he was then mopping] " on a Monday morning, and fish 

 " on till Saturday night, for Barbel as I told you, for that is my delight ; 

 ' and this I have sometimes done for a month together and, in all that 

 " while, have not had one bite." 



The Barbel-angler has, however, sometimes occa- 

 sion to exult at the sport which he finds. As recently Remarkable in- 

 as Aug. 9, 1807, at one of the deeps near Shepperton, stance of success. 

 which had been prepared by baiting the preceding 

 night, a party of four gentlemen, named Ernes, Atkinson, Hall, Moore ? 

 separated into two boats, beg-in fishing between ten and eleven in the 

 forenoon ; in about five hours they caught the following quantity ; 



EMES & ATKINSON. 

 2 Fish, weighing . . . 2Qlb. 

 6 - ......... 32 



SO - ...... , . 28 



4 - thrown over 



45 70 



42 80 



HALL & MOORK. 

 2 Fish, weighing . . . \5lb. 



20 23 



23 32 



Total, 87 fish, weighing 

 * Dr. Gilbert Sheldon ; warden of All Souls college ; chaplain to king 

 Charles the First; and, after the restoration, archbishop of Canterbury. 

 He founded the theatre at Oxford; died in 1677, and lies buried under 

 a stately monument at Croydon in Surry. 



Q 2 



