THE NORFOLK STYLE. L3 



after a time, and if not too suddenly disturbed at first, 

 they will become accustomed to and endure his presence 

 if he remains still and quiet. It is always advisable to 

 keep as much as possible out of sight, unless the water be 

 thick from rain ; and the angler should bear in mind, that 

 anything which comes between the. water and the sky 

 frightens the fish instantly ; whereas if there is a high 

 bank, a tree, or what not, at the angler's back, provided 

 he does not make too violent motion so as to attract atten- 

 tion, he may almost see the fish swallow the bait. When 

 on the bank, too, he should remember to let his motions 

 be as little lateral as possible. 



Punt or boat-fishing differs little from bank-fishing, as 

 regards the means employed, and much of what has been 

 set down as regards baiting will also apply to punt-fishing. 

 A favourite pitch is sought out, and the punt or boat is 

 usually moored across the stream by means of heavy poles, 

 shod with sharp irons, these being thrust into the bed of the 

 river, and the head and stern of the punt fastened thereto. 

 Sometimes, however, and more particularly when the 

 Nottingham style of fishing is employed, the punt or boat 

 is not moored across the stream, but is moored in a slanting 

 direction at an angle of about 40 or 50 with the direction 

 of the current. The boil and bubble created by the ob- 

 struction which the punt causes when moored across is 

 thus nearly avoided. The Nottingham style will be ex- 

 plained hereafter. 



I have spoken of the Norfolk style of fishing, and it may 

 not be out of place here to say a few words about it. The 

 punt on the Norfolk rivers, instead of being moored across 

 the stream as in the Thames, or in a slanting direction, as 

 is more common when 'traveller' fishing in the Notting- 

 ham style is practised, is moored up and down in a line 

 with the current, so that there is little or no disturbance 

 of the water. The swims are usually of considerable depth. 



