SIGNS OF PRESENCE OF FISH. 67 



capricious feeders, and may be fished for an extended 

 period without success, from which the uninitiated are 

 often led to doubt their presence. An infallible sign 

 indicating the presence of fish, and more particularly 

 tench, is a disturbed or discoloured state of the still 

 water. When a portion of standing water, having a 

 clear source, is seen to contain, when examined in a 

 clear glass vessel, particles of earth, etc., it may be 

 safely inferred that aquatic creatures of some size 

 and strength are the direct cause. We have never 

 known this rule to fail to indicate the presence of fish 

 in stagnant water. When the tench is in feeding " cue," 

 he goes at it with grim vengeance, and an industrious 

 rodster will often completely depopulate a small 

 sheet of water in a few hours, if he is so minded. But 

 though these fish may be " lugged " out or skull- 

 dragged at special times, almost as fast as they can 

 be accommodated with a hook, they are "higgerly, 

 piggerly " biters ; this may be partially owing to the 

 smallness of their mouth, and the large size of hook 

 usually employed. Even with the tench the employ- 

 ment of fairly fine tackle is found to answer. The 

 baits most in repute are brandling worms, gentles, and 

 wasp grubs. The best part of the year to fish for 

 them is July and August, early and late in the day. 

 The bait should reach and lie upon the bottom ; a 

 float may be used if deemed necessary. The mouth 

 of the fish is tough, like the remainder of the order. 



With regard to its edible qualities, all we can say, 

 if the successful angler, as a faithful follower of Old 

 Father Izaak, has an intention of pleasuring some 



