60 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLEK. 



gone. * Occasionally, however, the programme is varied, 

 for instead of clearing up the problem by a judicious 

 investigation up to the source, he proceeds skillfully and 

 artistically to dissect the bait, with a view to clear up 

 the mystery. It is no uncommon thing for the tyro to 

 have the bait taken from the hook for hours without in- 

 termission. There cannot be a rational doubt that the 

 fish, when this is the case, fully comprehends the situa- 

 tion. Worms, when well scoured and presented lively 

 and fresh, are good baits. These, however, are to be used 

 at the bottom, ledger f fashion, only instead of the usual 

 large lead, a couple of perforated swan shot should be 

 strung upon the line, and confined to within two-thirds 

 of a yard above the hook and bait, by a small-sized shot 

 attached to the line at the requisite place; or a double 

 knot of the gut may be made to answer the same purpose. 

 Potatoes, when part boiled, we have always found a more 

 killing bait than any other for these fish; they may be 

 used with ledger tackle as above. 



Our method of using the above is to rig up three and 

 one-half yards of medium gut a strongish fly cast will 

 answar this purpose with three-dropper hook No. 6, 

 Kendal, are best on eight or ten -inch gut. These are 

 placed two feet apart, a small shot being fixed to each yard 

 of the main gut line. The whole of the hooks are then to 

 be baited with the prepared potatoes, a piece the size of a 

 cherry being used for each hook, the whole delivered out 



* This quality of caution and captiousness in the carp is displayed in 

 other fish. The little " sunny" sometimes exhibits it, and I have seen a 

 black bass flash from out of a depth of six or eight feet of water, nose 

 the artificial fly, and then back water slowly with a sort of " no-you- 

 dont" flirt of the tail, as palpably intelligible as the finger to nose action 

 of the street gamin. 



t The ledger consists of a perforated bullet, or a roll of sheet lead, 

 about an ounce or so in weight. When this lies upon the bottom, the 

 line will run freely through it, until checked by a shot fastened about 

 two feet above the hook. 



