CUNNING OF THE CARP. 65 



which done, the carping critic waves a courteous or 

 contemptuous farewell flourish with his broad tail, and 

 is gone. Occasionally, however, the programme is 

 varied, for instead of clearing up the problem by a 

 judicious investigation up to the source, he proceeds to 

 skilfully and artistically dissect the bait, with a view 

 to clear up the mystery. It is no uncommon thing 

 for the tyro to have the bait taken from the hook for 

 hours without intermission. There cannot be a 

 rational doubt that the fish, when this is the case, 

 fully comprehends the situation. Worms, when well 

 scoured and presented lively and fresh, are good baits. 

 These, however, are to be used at the bottom, ledger 

 fashion, only instead of the usual large lead, a couple 

 of perforated swan shot should be strung upon the 

 line, and confined to within two-thirds of a yard above 

 the hook and bait, by a small-sized shot attached to 

 the line at the requisite place ; or a double knot of 

 the gut may be made to answer the same purpose. 

 Potatoes, when part boiled, we have always found a 

 more killing bait than any other for these fish ; they 

 may be used with ledger tackle as above. 



Our method of using the above is, to rig up 3j 

 yards of medium gut a strongish fly cast will answer 

 this purpose with three-dropper hook No. 6, Kendal, 

 are best on 8 or 10 inch gut. These are placed two 

 feet apart, a small shot being fixed to each yard of 

 the main gut line. The whole of the hooks are then 

 to be baited with the prepared potatoes, a piece the 

 size of a cherry being used for each hook, the whole 

 delivered out by a careful underhand cast. The bait 



F 



