44 BOTTOM FISHING IN THE NOTTINGHAM STYLE. 



wand is bending double from his powerful rushes, the angler 

 forgets that the day is cold, and that there is snow under his 

 feet. Let none say this sport is ignoble. " Ignoble," in- 

 deed. Let him answer who has felt the powerful rush of a 

 ten-pound barbel on the fine tackle of a Nottingham bottom 

 fisher. What hopes and fears he has had, what a time of 

 pleasurable enjoyment until, wearied out, the grand fish lies 

 in the landing-net. Such, then, is the tackle and sport of a 

 Nottingham bottom fisher. I wish to initiate the tyro into 

 this beautiful art ; and although it is impossible to teach it 

 thoroughly in a book, yet much may be learned this way ; 

 and as I am more particularly writing to working-men 

 anglers, I have used the plainest possible language, so that 

 the veriest tyro shall have no difficulty in understanding 

 what I say. 



