50 ANGLING. 



before the carp can find it out ; and, added to this, when 

 you begin to fish, the first miserable little eel or perch you 

 take will drive many of the best carp away ; and after you 

 have taken two or three, there will hardly be a carp left. 



Carp will take a variety of baits, as worms, gentles,. 

 wasp grubs, plain and sweet paste, boiled green peas, and 

 potatoes. The last is the best bait that can be used, 

 particularly with big carp ; it should be about three parts, 

 or rather more, boiled rather a waxy sort being chosen 

 and the best way of baiting with it is to use a small 

 triangle on a single thread of gut, with a small loop to the 

 other end of it, having a good big loop in the line to loop 

 it on to. Then take a baiting needle, and, hitching it on 

 to the loop of the triangle, draw the gut through the 

 middle of the potato and pull the triangle up so as just to 

 bury the hook points in the potato. Then cut the potato 

 round with a knife neatly till it is about the size of a good 

 sized gooseberry, and loop it on to the line the big loop 

 allowing the bait and all to be passed through easily. The 

 best way of fishing this bait is with a very light ledger, a 

 small pistol bullet being quite heavy enough. The gut 

 should be fineish, but strong and sound, as a big carp is a 

 doughty antagonist, and his first rush is not to be sneezed 

 at. I have been broken in it many a time, when I have 

 been at all in difficulties ; and carp, as they often run up 

 to lOlb. or 121b. weight, and even larger, and have very 

 powerful fins, want careful managing at first. They are, 

 too, pretty cunning, and will run you into a mass of weeds 

 if they can. 



In fishing a pond in this fashion it is best to attach a 

 very light float to the line, above the pistol bullet, allowing 

 enough line to permit the bullet to rest easily on the 

 bottom, and the float to lie on the surface. It is as well, 



