Several places being baited and fished without success, the gentle- 

 men and fishermen as well arrived at the conclusion that there 

 would be no more Barbel caught until there was some rain, 

 and a change in the water, for the water was too clear. This 

 was the general complaint made to me on my return by the 

 gentlemen, but I told them I did not believe in the water being 

 too clear for Barbel fishing, and that they required only to 

 use a little more foxing and to fish in a different style. "Well," 

 says one of the gentlemen, " will you go and bait me such a 

 place ; although it has been baited and fished several times of 

 late without much success, I have no objection to give it 

 another trial if you think there is a chance of nailing the fish." 

 I knew the swim selected to be a very good one for Barbel fishing, 

 and I accordingly went with fifteen hundred worms to bait the 

 place. The water was as clear as ever it was, and the day bright 

 and hot, which was another difficulty. I went cautiously to the 

 water-side and threw the baiting in the usual style, mixing with 

 nothing, and came away leaving the result till the morrow. I 

 had not got a mile from the place when I met another gentleman, 

 a friend of mine, who is passionately fond of Barbel fishing. He 

 asked me what I was doing there, and said he thought I was in 

 London. I answered, " but you see I am not. I returned two 

 days ago, and have just been to bait a place for a party of 

 gentlemen." " Then, let me tell you," he said, " you will do no 

 good ; the place has been baited and fished three or four times 

 since you last fished it, by some of the best Barbel fishers in the 

 town. I have also had a try at it, and fished it as well as any 

 man could and I caught no fish : the water is too clear for Barbel 

 fishing, that's certain ; and, mark me, you will get such a licking 

 as you have not had lately." " Well, I replied, time will tell ; 

 the place has always turned out a good lot of fish when I have 

 fished it ; in fact, I have never known it fail, and if this should 

 be a failure it will be the first. I suppose you will be fishing 

 about this neighbourhood to-morrow, if so, you will be able to 

 to see what sort of a licking I do get: so I bid you good morning." 

 On the following morning we went down to the place I had 



