THE BAKBEL. 



THIS is a handsome well made fish, but he has got a bad name, 

 in consequence of his coarseness, and many Anglers do not con- 

 sider him worth fishing for. His flesh is certainly coarse, and 

 bad food, but gentlemen Anglers do not fish Barbel for eating, 

 they fish them, for pleasure and sport, and Barbel is just the fish, 

 when hooked with fine tackle, to give the Angler any amount 

 of sport and excitement. "When a Barbel is hooked with fine 

 tackle it requires no ordinary amount of care and skill to kill 

 him, and herein lies the delight of gentlemen Anglers. I 

 know hundreds who prefer angling for Barbel than for any 

 other fish. The great Izaak Walton was very partial to Barbel 

 fishing, but whether he ate them when caught is another thing. 

 But let me tell you who are so prejudiced against Barbel 

 and Barbel fishing that you are " duffers " excuse my freedom 

 for it makes me wroth to hear Barbel fishing run down by 

 those who do not understand the art. For my part, when Bar- 

 bel is in season, I would rather angle for him than for any other 

 fish. So enamoured am I of Barbel fishing, that I found myself 

 once inspired to give vent to the following poetical effusion 

 listen and be edified : 



The Barbel is a handsome fish, 



As you may plainly see, 

 But that his flesh is very coarse, 



With ine you will agree. 

 Yet fights he hard, and dies right game, 



And thinks of getting free, 

 But then he finds it is no go 



When once hooked fair by me. 



