THE CARP AND CARP FISHING 

 a foot of similar gut. Where ttie gut trace and hook gut meet, pinch 

 a shot on either side of the knot and one on the hook gut, and we shall 

 find ourselves ready to bait, remembering that no form of float is 

 possible, since large carp at once perceive a rising line. Upon the 

 end lead (placed there to be able to cast far out) put a large lump 

 of ordinary bread paste, flattened so as to lie on the mud and not be 

 buried in it; also over the three shots place one large lump of common 

 paste to hide the union of the gut, flattened also. It acts as (1) ground 

 bait; (2) an attractive object to raise their curiosity; (3) gives them, 

 from its harmlessness, confidence; (4) and last, but not least, leads 

 them into the neighbourhood of the far more attractive pieces of sweet 

 paste on the hooks. 



BAIT 



" The sweet paste on the hooks may be made of stale breadcrumb 

 made into a paste with dry powdered loaf sugar and honey well 

 kneaded with perfectly clean hands, and not so tenacious as to hinder 

 hooking, or soft, as to soon soak off. It is semi-transparent when well 

 made, and when the hooks are baited, must be dipped in pure honey ' 

 to avoid ' human contamination,' but make them of a more fishy 

 nature still. 



•' Carp have largely developed nostrils with curious lids, and I think 

 find bait — even hidden by mud — mostly by scent. It will be noted that 

 these monsters must hook themselves. Of this more anon. A water 

 telescope would be the way to find out when to strike by simple obser- 

 vation. The hook-shanks may be painted bait-colour if dark, since 

 the hook shows wonderfully clear through a thin layer of paste, as it 

 becomes after lying for a time in the water. 



"Having cast well out and carefully so as not to cast off the bait, 

 throw a little of a mixture of boiled potatoes and mud with, say, 

 brewer's grains mixed in the form of balls round about the lead 

 and retire to the rushes, lying down close at the reel (the two buttons 

 being first placed parallel to the rod), the whole length of the rod 

 being upon the bank, observing that the line runs freely, and no part 

 of the line rises in the water (fresh line often floats fatally in parts) ; 

 then lie down (perhaps, preferably, even for men and anglers, with 

 a book of a kind to aid in rendering the mind peaceful and patient) 



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