SELECTING A SWIM. 65 



with it down-stream. Now comes the nicer part of the 

 operation, and that is to give off line from the reel so 

 lightly and continuously that it shall run freely through 

 the rings, and never check the swim of the float. This is 

 done by keeping the reel turning fast or slow in exact 

 accordance with the requirements of the stream, working 

 it by quick, short touches from a left-hand finger on the 

 edge or circumference of the wheel. 



If, in going down the swim, the angler finds that it 

 deepens off very much, or that there is too much of a rise 

 or hill, or that the bottom is foul, he has nothing for it 

 but to choose another swim. 



Supposing that he has at length found a swim suffi- 

 ciently level throughout and to his mind, he then breaks 

 up four or five worms into very small pieces and throws 

 them in well above the swim, calculating carefully where- 

 abouts they are likely to ground; and here, again, is a 

 point that requires practice and judgment, because if 

 thrown in too high up the stream the bait grounds too soon, 

 and the fish are drawn up out of the swim. If too low, 

 then the reverse happens. The great object is to fish over 

 your ground-bait ; and for this purpose you must observe 

 not only the latitude of the swim but the longitude also. 

 There is a great deal more in this than many suppose ; 

 and many an indifferent day's sport has no doubt been 

 ascribed to any other cause but the right one, in conse- 

 quence of neglect or miscalculation of this important point. 

 Having ascertained that the bottom of the swim is tolerably 

 clear of obstruction, and thrown in bait, &c., the angler 

 commences his swim; but first it may happen that the 

 swim he has selected is some two rods' length from the 

 shore (roach and dace-swims are seldom more, though 

 barbel of course will lie in the heavier streams, more 

 towards the centre of the river). Now, suppose the 

 angler's swim to be, let us say, twenty feet from the spot 



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