L'" RINGING THE CHANGES. 



need no hard pulling, it is undoubtedly preferable at any 

 rate for the hook; though from a punt, where you may ex- 

 pect barbel, or have to use a heavy tackle, I do not advise 

 it. The best hair is that from a strong young horse ; it 

 should be even, round, shiny and hard, not dull coloured or 

 scurfy ; cream colour is the best colour, but is not easy to 

 get ; next to that lightish brown or sorrel, and next to 

 that white ; any dark colour is useless. White hair may 

 be dyed, but it does not stand dye well. I have often 

 landed six-pound bream with single hair. 



The best hook-baits for roach are, as I have intimated, 

 first, maggots, or gentles, as they are more commonly called 

 by metropolitan anglers. Those blown on bullock's liver, 

 which are shiny and yellow, are the best by far. When 

 using them, the roach, not being hungry, often want a 

 little coaxing or variety. When you think this is the 

 case, instead of two gentles use one, and point your hook 

 with a chrysalis. But you must strike lightly when fishing 

 with chrysalis, or you will have to bait afresh every swim. 

 It will frequently happen, too, when fishing with gentles, 

 that the roach are shy, and will keep on biting and nib- 

 bling; and a scene of pricking, scratching, losing, and 

 abortive striking takes place, in which your two gentles 

 become time after time mere transparent skins, and your 

 fish do not come to hand. When this is the case, try a 

 small No. 11 hook, just taking enough of the skin on the 

 hook to attach the gentle to the hook without killing it 

 (hook on by the thick skin at the but or thick end of the 

 gentle), and then let it down the swim twirling about alive, 

 and you will often get ten or a dozen good fish if you do 

 not lose one or two before they find out their mistake ; 

 perhaps then they will take to pulling your gentle off, or, 

 as before, squeezing out the intestines, carefully avoiding 

 the hook meanwhile. Then must you string the gentle 

 on to the hook bodily, passing the hook into the thick end, 



