THE KUFFE AND MINNOW. 171 



more like a gudgeon. The fish is small, four or five inches 

 being his extreme length ; it spawns in April, and he is to be 

 found in deep quiet corners, and like the eel is not afraid of 

 a bit of mud. He will bite freely at a worm, and where the 

 young angler takes one he will very often find many more. 

 The ruffe is not much good, except as a bit of practice for the 

 young angler. 



The minnow is well known to any lad who has seen a 

 stream of water. These tiny fish also belong to the carp 

 family, and what a little beauty he is, with his splendid 

 colouring, silvery white, brown, pink, &c., &c. When I 

 see one it always brings back to my memory the happy time 

 of my school days, when I used to catch them with a bent 

 pin and a scrap of worm. They are an excellent bait 

 for perch, &c., and for this purpose are caught in a hand net 

 or a minnow trap specially made. They will take a scrap 

 of worm on the smallest of hooks, and any lad can catch 

 them with a stick, a bit of thread, a small piece of horsehair, 

 a bent pin, and a scrap of worm or gentle, or a tiny bit of 



And now, dear reader, I have got to the end of my in- 

 structions for " Bottom Fishing in the Nottingham Style," and 

 if I have imparted any real knowledge to those for whom it 

 is intended, I shall be well satisfied. I will, therefore, wind 

 up my line, put away my tackle, and bid you farewell ; and 

 may you have as many happy days on the Trent, or else- 

 where, as I have had, in the pursuit of this my favourite 

 sport. 



