216 A BOOK ON ANGLING 



not be made thus, but moderate sport in fair weather would 

 be got through the season. In some rivers much of the v ^ter 

 is heavy and not very favourable mayhap for fly-fishing, and 

 spinning is therefore allowed ; but I say, never mind the heavy 

 waters, they will form reservoirs or depots whence the shallower 

 fly-fishing portions can be kept stocked, for the good fish will 

 come on to the shallows at times to feed, and one good fish 

 caught with the fly is worth three caught with minnow, in 

 point of sport. If, however, it be held indispensable that 

 minnow should be allowed, do not let it clash with the fly, 

 but prohibit it until the latter end of the season, when it may 

 be used for a limited time when the fly becomes only doubtfully 

 attractive. 



Very few words are sufficient for par-tail fishing, as the 

 method is precisely similar to minnow spinning. The tackle 

 almost invariably used is that shown in Plate IX, Fig. 5, 

 page 211. To cut a par- tail bait : take a sharp knife and slice 

 the little fish through from the fore part of the dorsal fin to 

 midway between the anal and ventral fins, cut off the fins, 

 thread the big hook down through the bait, beginning at the 

 tail, and bending the fine end of the cut on the bend of the 

 hook to give the twist, hook on the lip-hook, and let the tri- 

 angle hang loose. N.B. Take particular care the water- 

 bailiff does not note your operations, or you will very probably 

 be fined for killing salmon fry ; for this reason I say little 

 about the par-tail, but I feel bound to notice it, as it is a style 

 which has prevailed, chiefly in the north, for many years. 



In spinning in lakes, the style of tackle recommended for 

 Thames trout should be used. It should be pretty heavily 

 weighted, the line paid out some forty or fifty yards behind 

 the boat, the rod depending over either quarter of the stern. 

 The water between deep and shallow will be found the favourite 

 lay for good fish ; then row slowly and steadily along, trailing 

 the bait behind. In all other matters, much that I have 

 already said as to lake-fishing will apply. 



THE GRAYLING (Thymallus vulgaris) 



I have a very high opinion of this fish. If the trout be 

 the gentleman of the streams, the grayling is certainly the 

 lady, and I think it in some respects little inferior to the 

 trout, and Jn 'others superior to him ; for example, grayling 



