THAMES FISHING. 



causes the bait to move about. The best bait is 

 graves (the remains of tallow-chandler's fat), which 

 should be boiled till they are soft and nearly white, 

 and also gentles, cheese and salmon-roe. The line 

 cannot be cast into the water too quietly, neither js 

 it necessary to throw out as great a length of it as 

 the Thames anglers generally do. I have caught 

 as many barbel close to the punt as at a greater 

 distance from it. 



The barbel is a powerful fish, and it requires 

 some skill to land a large one ; so that it should be 

 played and managed with great care. 



Roach and dace fishers form another distinct 

 class of Thames fishermen, and it is very seldom 

 they try for any thing else, or indeed, understand 

 any other sort of fishing. So keen, however, are 

 they at this sport, that many pursue it very late in 

 the year ; and a retired surgeon, of the name of 

 Wood, is still talked of at Hampton, as having 

 braved the coldest weather in winter in order to 

 follow his favorite diversion. He would get up 

 before it was light, have his breakfast, and fish till 

 it was dark, at a time when the wet was freezing on 

 his line. He had always, however, a hot dinner 

 brought to the boat, which must have kept him 

 from starving in both senses. 



The largest roach I can hear of, weighed three 

 pounds. In the spawning season, which takes 

 place in April, immense shoals go " to hill, 1 " as the 



