14 THE ART OF FISHING. 



pany into Flora's Hall along the netted channel, 

 instead of the party remaining outside to enjoy 

 the bouquet at the sides of the net, without 

 going in; a liberty you must not allow. Be 

 very careful that your net be equally leaded, 

 not heavier at one end than at the other ; for if 

 it is, when placed in the river, the heavier side 

 will raise the opposite hoop from the bottom, 

 and mar your success. 



As a general rule do not set your net in deep 

 water, but rather by the side of the river ; and be 

 careful to set it along the stream, not across it ; 

 and set it between the weeds, in those channels 

 you often see at the bottom of rivers. I give this 

 caution, because the fish have regular paths, like 

 the sheep on an open plain. So if you place your 

 nets on the weeds, instead of at the sides of them, 

 the finny travellers may never discover the ac- 

 commodation provided for them. The sides of 

 bulrushes, and often under projecting banks, are 

 favourite haunts for tench. As a last direction I 

 should recommend that the bow net has never more 

 than ( t wo feet of water above it when set ; one foot 

 would be better. Xo water above it, but level 

 with the top, would be most preferable of all. In 

 some rivers you cannot accomplish this with hoop 

 nets of the size I have given ; so if the sides of 



