66 CLAY-BALL FISHING. 



habit. If, however, the fish remain shy, leave the swim 

 for a couple of hours, when they will have regained both 

 confidence and an appetite probably. To continue fishing 

 and baiting is certain failure. 



The next stationary way of fishing is by what is called 

 the clay-ball. This plan is used chiefly from a punt or 

 boat, and is often successful in clear water ; it is employed 

 too chiefly when gentles or greaves are used as a bait, 

 about half-a-dozen gentles or a small piece of greaves 

 being stuck on a perch-hook. About a foot or more above 

 the hook, a little bit of stick, of about an inch in length, 

 is fastened cross-wise ; this is for the purpose of holding 

 the ball on the line. A lump of stiff clay, of the size of 

 an orange, is then taken, and some gentles being enclosed 

 in it, it is worked up with bran over the piece of stick on 

 to the line. The gut between the ball and the hook is 

 then wound round the ball and drawn into the clay, which 

 is squeezed and worked over it, so that only the hook shall 

 protrude beyond the proper end of the ball, which is then 

 dropped to the bottom the hook with the gentles show- 

 ing just outside the ball, in the most attractive way (see 

 Plate II. figs. 8 and 9, p. 70). Soon the gentles in the clay 

 force their way out, and the fish taking them from the 

 ball, almost inevitably take those on the hook also ; the 

 angler strikes when he feels a bite, which he does almost 

 as easily as with the ledger, and the strike shakes and 

 breaks off the clay ball, leaving the line free to play the 

 fish. Some anglers, to make the lure more deceptive, 

 enclose the hook in the clay ball, and let the fish dig it 

 out, but it is not necessary. A stoutish rod and tackle are 

 required. This is a very killing plan, when the fish are 

 biting shyly ; but it cannot, of course, be practised far 

 from the boat or bank. 



The French fish somewhat in this style, using a short 

 piece of whalebone or stick, of some eighteen 'inches long, 



