JUNE 101 



these fish appear too big for dace, and a gleam of red 

 fill betrays that the larger ones are roach. Try them. 

 Crouching on the lock drop the bait gently on 

 the surface of the water and gradually let it sink. 

 Out from the shoal swims one nice fish and snaps 

 up your bait as it slowly falls ; strike, and a 

 nice roach of over lib. is fighting for dear life. 

 Keep back from the edge, and play him round to 

 where the bank runs down to the water and slip the 

 net under him. But dace are what you are after, so 

 sit down and wait for the shoal to return. Soon they 

 come and swim towards you. The bait should be 

 lowered to the surface on their approach and gently 

 allowed to sink. Up comes the father of the flock and 

 seizes it, and then you get the fish of the day. Gently, 

 gently, don't hurry him ; but keep a tight line, and soon 

 this fish of between fib. and lib. is added to those in 

 the basket. Now take your lunch, for the shoal in the 

 still water think grandpapa has gone mad, and the 

 sorrowful occurrence has put them off their food. After 

 lunch try again, and you get one or two more, and then 

 the remainder wake up to the fact that the object on 

 the lock has something to do with the mysterious dis- 

 appearances that take place so frequently. Therefore 

 they regard your bait with uneasiness, and if induced to 

 inspect it, go no further, but precipitately retire. Hide 

 under the arm of the gate, keep the shadow of your rod 

 off the water, and wait. Soon they return, and your 

 cunning is rewarded by two more taking the bait in the 

 old unsuspicious fashion. Re-baiting the hook after the 

 last fish taken, we are gently, experimentally letting it 

 sink and drawing it close up to the lock gate when 

 another dash occurs, and in an instant a strike, and 

 you are playing a fine perch nearly 21bs. in weight. 

 Out he dashes over the lock pool, and the little rod is 

 nearly doubled as we give him the butt to keep him out 

 of the piles on the other side. Up and down he goes, 

 dashing hither and thither, with his great spiny fin 

 bristling with rage. Treat him gently, and put him 

 back when landed, for he is in but poor condition after 



