68 LIGHT CORKING. 



mit such extravagance. If he gets a fish or two, or a bite 

 or two, he then breaks up a few more worms at the first 

 pause in the biting and keeps to his swim, only repeating 

 the dose when the fish begin to slacken in their biting. 

 A dozen worms will often be all the ground-bait he will 

 use in a pitch which may give him as many or even 

 double as many fish. 



The hook-bait in this kind of fishing is usually a small 

 red worm, though scratching (as they term greaves on the 

 Trent) is used when worms are not to be had. One great 

 point the Nottingham angler pays the utmost attention to 

 is, that all the worms shall be thoroughly sweet and 

 scoured, and as lively as possible. 



Having now described this method of fishing, it will 

 be seen that a fine line is of the first necessity to it. It 

 does not sink in the water, but lies lightly on the surface, 

 so that the strike is not impeded in any way. It sucks 

 up very little water, too, and soon dries ; and beyond 

 this it runs off the reel much more freely than a thicker 

 line would- So far there is every advantage in favour of 

 it ; but if it rains, and the line, rod, and rings get wet, it 

 becomes very difficult to get the light line to run, even by 

 the most assiduous wiping ; and if there be a strong con- 

 trary wind, it is difficult to fish satisfactorily. 



If he goes for barbel-fishing, the angler generally uses 

 a rod and tackle a trifle heavier and larger. This is called 

 * light corking,' because the float used is a light cork one. 

 This will carry sufficient weight to enable the tackle to be 

 cast off the reel. 1 It will be evident that the angler has 



1 This cast, however, is by no means easy to acquire. Even the old 

 Thames spinner or ledger-fisher will find it no certainty, and at the com- 

 mencement will very often find his float round his head, or his rod, perhaps, 

 or anywhere but where he wants it to be ; but patience, practice, and perse- 

 verance do much ; and the chief direction to be borne in mind is, to avoid 

 anything like a jerk : a smooth regular sweep is that which has to be prac- 

 tised in the delivery or casting of the tackle. Having gently swung the 



