SPECIALISING. 49 



water as possible has been wrung out of it and 

 poured away, and then it must be kneaded ener- 

 getically into a stiff pudding with a plentiful 

 admixture of dry bran ; the stiffer it is the better it 

 will serve. The ground-bait is best carried in a 

 linen bag. For hook bait, bread paste is good 

 enough, but threepennyworth of "gentles" 

 (Anglice maggots) may be purchased as well from 

 the tackle dealer. Personally, I have generally 

 found paste better than gentles in summer, and 

 gentles than paste in winter, but there is no 

 invariable law. Worms, as a rule, are of little use 

 for river roach in summer, but are good in winter, 

 especially when the water is thick. Little hungry 

 roach in ponds will take worms at all times. 



Bread paste is easily made by putting a piece of 

 stale crumb into the corner of a strong, clean cloth, 

 soaking it in clean water, and then squeezing the 

 water out by screwing up the cloth. It should 

 come out about the consistency of putty, or a little 

 stiffer. A piece about as big as an orange will last 

 an ordinary day's fishing. Having, then, his ground- 

 bait, paste, gentles, and tackle, as before, with the 

 addition of a camp-stool, the novice will proceed 

 once more to Mr. Smith's fishery. This time he 

 will pass by the mill, cross the meadow beyond, 

 and come to the weir-pool. Below the pool is a 



