A LURE FOR BARBEL. 59 



cates the least movement of the bait. The position 

 of this is allowed to be an inclined one, the bites 

 being indicated by a partial or entire depression. 

 This method might be termed ledgering with a float. 

 When used in conjunction with the bran and bread 

 or clay ball system, it is exceptionally killing at 

 times. The barbel has been referred to as being one 

 of the most cunning fish that swims, and the devices 

 for his allurement are ingenious and various. Before 

 passing on, however, to other systems, we shall offer 

 some hints as to the method just alluded to. The 

 substances used are, as we have already stated, bread, 

 bran, or clay. Of the first two of these an admixture 

 is made, being formed into a stiff paste. A ball of 

 the size of a ripe plum is then formed, the centre 

 being dry bran. This is attached to the line an 

 inch or so above the barbed hook. There it gradually 

 breaks away, thus forming a kind of concentrated 

 ground bait, which brings fish to the morsel. The 

 clay is generally stiffened by bran, and is used in 

 balls from the size of a marble to an orange, the 

 contents being maggots or worms. The hook should 

 be mounted with an exceptionally attractive specimen 

 of what the ball may contain. The barbed hook is 

 allowed to peep forth below the clay and its contents, 

 which latter soon finds a way out, and if not, the 

 barbel, being a rooting fish, soon finds out their 

 retreat. Occasionally, the hook is encased inside the 

 ball, allowing the fish to prog for it. This we think 

 to be as unnecessary as it is foolish, as when the 

 baited hook protrudes it is naturally seized first, and 



