HOW TO STRIKE. 9 



bottom while about an inch of the float is above the 

 surface. Some fish require the bait to drag a little more 

 than others, and for them, of course, a longer allowance of 

 depth on the line must be made. Having ascertained the 

 depth, take off the cap of the float, take a half-hitch of the 

 line on the top to secure it, and replace the cap, which 

 should fit pretty tightly to prevent any slipping or coming 

 off. Then bait the hook, drop the tackle into the water, 

 and let it go with the stream ; as it gees down follow it 

 with the rod-point, keeping the point always as directly 

 over the float as possible. If there be no disturbance of 

 the float, but it swims serenely on, let it go on to the point 

 which you have marked out as the end of the stream, or as 

 far as the line allows ; and before withdrawing it, in punt^ 

 fishing, always strike; for fish will often take the bait 

 just as it reaches the end of the swim as it begins to rise 

 from the ground, owing to the tension of the line not per- 

 mitting it to go further while the stream still carries it on : 

 and as this is a sort of running away on the part of the 

 bait, it is often attractive to fish that have been following 

 it ; or it may be that it comes more prominently into 

 view. However that may be, always strike at the end of 

 the swim pretty sharply. But should the float in its 

 progress dip suddenly down under the surface of the water, 

 strike instantly. In punt-fishing this should be done 

 from the elbow, because there is a good deal of slack line 

 between the rod-point and float to be tightened, and there 

 is a long angle to be brought into a straight line before 

 the rod-point can be brought into direct action on the 

 hook, and the further off the float is down the stream the 

 more acute this angle is, and the more power is required 

 to reduce things to a straight line again between the rod- 

 point and the hook ; and this is the reason why it is neces- 

 sary to strike harder towards the end of the swim than 

 when the float is directly under the rod-point. In bank- 



