THE ROACH. 31 



make about twenty or more balls enough for one day's 

 fishing. It is the best ground bait ever made. Take care 

 the materials are sweet, and fresh, and don't keep it more 

 than forty-eight hours or it will turn sour and drive the 

 fish away. Some people use brewers' grains, bullocks' 

 blood, and a host of similar matter. 



One thing should always be observed carefully, viz., 

 having got your fish together, be very careful not to 

 overbait or overfeed them, or the fish will soon get 

 gorged and refuse the hook. This is a great fault 

 with many of the Thames puntsmen : they will throw 

 in ground bait enough in one day to last for four 

 if the fish are feeding, and many a promising day is 

 thus destroyed; a little now and then, just enough to 

 attract attention and to keep the fish on the -look out is all 

 that is needed. The skilful angler knows that his object 

 is to keep the fish on the watch and eager for the hook, 

 not to fill their bellies and make them capricious and 

 dainty. 



There is a method of ground baiting which, in low 

 clear water, is sometimes very effective, and not only 

 for roach, but for bream and other fish, and that is termed 

 "blowing the trumpet" a long tube of zinc is used deep 

 enough to reach the bottom of the water. This is sunk 

 and fixed to the side of the boat or punt. The upper end 

 has a bell or trumpet shaped mouth, in fact it is a long- 

 spouted funnel. A large tub of mud or clay and water, 

 with bran, &c., and sometimes blood and any debris that 

 can be easily got and will attract roach, is then mixed all 

 up together until it becomes a slush. A pint or two of 

 this from time to time is thrown into the bell of the funnel 

 and emits a stream of mud at the bottom of the water, 

 which discolours the water and much attracts the 



