96 A BOOK OF THE RUNNING BROOK ; 



by small boys armed with dinner-forks tied to 

 the end of sticks, with which they spear poor 

 little " Beardie," while, like an ostrich, he has 

 hidden his head behind a stone. But if he 

 does not show sport himself, he is capable of 

 causing it to be shown by others, for loach are 

 one of the most deadly baits for lake trout that 

 can be found. And to such persons as wish to 

 try what delights loach-trolling can afford on an 

 Irish lough, on a fine summer or autumn even- 

 ing, we would recommend the use of the small 

 green loach, of about two and a half to three 

 inches long, as being of the kind and size most 

 preferred by Salmo ferox. 



Next to the gudgeon in the order of edible 

 merit comes the minnow. Though the smallest 

 member of the Cyprinidce, he is by no means to 

 be despised on that account. Izaak Walton, 

 speaking of the minnow, says that he may be 



