34 ANGLING. 



not catch many. The size of the hook must be regu- 

 lated by the bait you use. A somewhat larger hook may 

 be used for paste than is used for gentles or worm. Some 

 anglers like hooks with very short shanks, but I do not 

 think it a good plan, as they do not strike truly, they are 

 more apt to spring, and many fish are lost by them. When 

 the roach are biting shyly, a small hook with one gentle 

 will often do better than a larger one with two. 



Roach vary a good deal in their method of feeding. Some- 

 times the float dabs down with a sharp pluck. I do not 

 like to see that, for either the fish are small, and when the 

 small fish are "on" the big ones are not, or they are rather 

 more sporting than feeding. Sometimes they niggle at the 

 bait, and the float goes " tip, tip, tip," just dipping to the 

 surface with short sharp jerks. That is not a good sign 

 either, as you have to wait till the float goes under, and 

 very often it does not. But when you see the float sink 

 down steadily and gravely in a way that there is no mis- 

 taking, then be sure that the big ones are at work and the 

 fish are well on ; and if there are plenty of them, and you 

 do not overfeed them, and no change comes over the 

 weather, happy fellow, you are in for a good day. Then 

 waste no time, ground bait sparingly, and conduct your- 

 self quietly. As soon as you have hooked a good fish get 

 him down out of the swim as soon as you can, and with as 

 little noise or splashing as possible. 



The best floats for light work are straight porcupine 

 quills. Some people like those jointed quill floats ; I 

 do not, they are apt to get out of order and take in 

 water just when you don't want them to. A very 

 thin cork case may be set upon the porcupine if a 

 heavier float is wanted. The bait should be as near as 

 possible to the bottom without hanging. The running 



