60 BOTTOM FISHING IN THE NOTTINGHAM STYLE. 



the shallows, where they congregate in considerable numbers 

 for the purpose of scouring themselves. At this time they 

 go rashing in and out among the weeds, and thread them in 

 all directions. I have seen weed beds twenty yards long and 

 five wide, that have been literally alive with them. Poachers, 

 too, take advantage of this peculiarity of the barbel, and put 

 a long net over the vreed beds, and take them to the extent 

 of stones, I might say " tons ;" for a few years ago a party of 

 three went every morning for a fortnight, and came back 

 every time with as many fish as they could fairly stagger 

 under. I am afraid this was a general plan in many districts 

 on the Trent. It was grievous to see so many fine fish out 

 of condition, to be sold for about one penny a pound as 

 wholesome food, when it was anything but wholesome. I 

 last year saw two or three lots of barbel and chub that had 

 been taken by the same manner, but it was a few days after 

 the fifteenth of June, and I have also seen numbers too that 

 have been taken with the cad-bait during May and June, 

 when they have been in a gravid state. Barbel spawn about 

 the latter part of May, and retire to the deep holes about 

 July ; they should certainly not be taken before then. This 

 fish delights in such places as old walls, where old piles and 

 posts stick up out of the water, or in an eddy under a shelv- 

 ing bank, or about old sunken trees or timber, providing the 

 water is tolerably deep ; he delights, too, in the rushing boil- 

 ing waters of the weir and other deep rapid waters, for his 

 powerful fins enable him to stem the strongest current. 



I have heard anglers again and again remark on the scarcity 

 of the barbel in the Trent, there is no wonder at it when we 

 consider the vast quantities that used to be taken in the 

 manner I have described, but we must hope for better things. 

 In my opinion netting ought to be stopped from the first of 

 March till the first of August, and then we may hope for a 

 return of the good old days in barbel fishing here, when a 



