FISHING AT HOME AND ABROAD 

 advantage of a long lift to counteract his burrowing tendencies; for 

 allow him once to bury and spread himself out below the mud, and 

 all hope of seeing him again, much less landing him, is over. 



"The line, and not less than one hundred yards (but according to 

 the size and the necessities of the pond, of course), should be of light 

 green, fine and strong, waterproof silk; be it remembered that the 

 strength of a line need never be more than the trace, where a break 

 will occur if anywhere. I have once, upon playing a presumptive 

 twenty -five pounder, had to bite off my line from the reel and attach 

 a second reel with one hundred yards, whilst the fish was on the end, 

 as I saw that if I ran short I should lose both fish, line (an expensive 

 commodity when good), and — let us only say possibly — my temper. 

 The line near the trace need only be of this green colour, as they some- 

 times have a way of swimming towards a strange sight, and a green 

 thread may be taken for a weed, especially if half buried in mud; 

 farther off anything will do, merely have ample room for it if it swells 

 (as it should not if properly oiled). 



"The reel should have a large barrel for rapid winding, since carp 

 often run away and then double back at a great rate straight towards 

 the angler to get at the rushes or bank, when one splash and all is over, 

 except perhaps for a faint (or not) sound issuing from near the rod, 

 the sense of which is generally much about the same, although the 

 quality varies. 



" The trace must be of a dull water colour of a brownish green, and 

 should never hang or be cast in dry loops of a brilliant nature, especi- 

 ally when the sun shines, which no self-respecting carp will approach. 

 Note, therefore, that it be soaked overnight, and the knots well tried, 

 and then stretched a little by a plummet from the top of the rod when 

 getting the tackle ready. Its strength must be excellent, since it must 

 not be either " drawn " or coarse. In staining, imitate the bottom 

 where you intend to fish. I have even gone so far as to collect some 

 of the bottom, dry it, varnish my trace, and roll it in the dry powder, 

 hook-shanks and all, and fished thus, but it falls off too soon. 



NO FLOAT 



*' End the trace with a flat, irregular piece of lead, and at intervals 

 of, say, one foot, attach two of the very smallest triangles to about 

 226 



