THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 57 



Boots used by the angler should be made of good 

 sound pliable leather (easily fitting over woollen socks or 

 stockings), with a low, flat heel and a broad sole laced. 

 There is no necessity to have the soles paved with nails, until 

 they look like an iron plate, making the boots so weighty 

 that the angler is wearied by carrying them ere half of the 

 day is gone. A few " sparables " or not too broad-headed 

 nails, about half an inch apart, are quite enough to give a 

 good footing on slippery stones. The best leather for 

 anglers' boots is porpoise hide ; it keeps soft always, no 

 matter how wet it has been. It is expensive, but on account 

 of the lasting properties, boots made from it will be found 

 cheaper in the long run. A good shape for boots is that 

 used by the military, called " high lows " ; they are easy on 

 the ankle and across the top of the foot. Another good 

 boot, which comes up to the knee and can be used to wade 

 in for a short time, is the "Field" boot. It is made of 

 extremely fine-grained soft leather, is laced up the front 

 over a waterproof tongue, and easy to walk in ; a pair of 

 these are very light in weight, considering the length of leg, 

 but they are very expensive. All leather boots after being 

 used should be dressed with some of the various " dubbins " 

 or waterproof mixtures (g.v.), and put on "trees" to keep 

 in shape ; they should never be dried at the fire. 



Bottom Fishing 1 . Nearly all fish that swim may 

 be captured by this mode of angling, as they have a habit of 

 grovelling about the bed or bottom of the water, stirring up 

 the soil on the look-out for grubs, worms, and larvae of all 

 sorts which may be found there. The angler has merely 

 to choose the w r ell-known baits suitable for the fish he is 

 about to angle for, and present it to them in the natural 

 manner of lying on the bottom of the river or pond, with 



