AND HOW I HAVE CAUGHT MY FISH 317 



consisted of a thirteen foot, light, bamboo rod, a 

 Nottingham reel, and light line, six feet of fine 

 round gut, to which had been fastened a fair-sized 

 Crystal hook, (Crystal hooks have handy, long 

 shanks for worms), and a small float that needed 

 but three shots on the line. On the hook I put 

 two brandlings that had such freedom as made 

 them look like those I had already given. 



The host of "The Swan" at Eynsham was my 

 pilot to this spot and he stood ready with the net. 



The hole was at least 10 feet deep; but I 

 trimmed my float for only five, which proved more 

 than sufficient, for the float was carried away 

 before it had time to cock. With the greatest 

 care to keep hidden I brought the fish close to my 

 feet, where it was netted without disturbance to 

 the swimming shoal beyond the bough. 



There was no break in our success ; fish after 

 fish greedily took the lure, sometimes almost 

 from the surface, and at such times I could count 

 the number remaining. This became easy when 

 there were but five left to count. When the last 

 was out there were thirty- three upon the bank. Six 

 of them I have in a case, their weights varying 

 from 2 Ibs. 2 oz. to 3 Ibs. 1 5 oz. 



As we leave the Mead and take^the road that 

 skirts the river to the " Bells of Ouseley " we 

 shall pass another famous barbel swim, possibly 

 the best of the three if baited well and carefully. 

 No mere throwing in any quantity of worms will 



