TROULING, ETC. 53 



which I shall hereafter describe under the head "gud- 

 geon." Thei about ten inches or a foot from the hooks 

 fix a small shot, and above that again slip on a piece of 

 lead the form of a barleycorn, and about half as large, with 

 hole through the centre from end to end, so that it will 

 drop upon the shot and sink ) our bait ; then a little 

 above the lead fix on your swivel, and about a yard more 

 gut, to which you attach your line, either with or with- 

 out another swivel ; or if you think proper you may 

 fix the lead in the mouth of your bait-fish, as in the 

 other traces instead of on your line ; you bait these 

 traces the same as the other. You may vary your bait- 

 ing by whipping the bottom hook or hooks with a bit of 

 white thread to the tail of your bait fish. 



There are mary wars of making traces which I think 

 needless to mention, those already enumerated being 

 quite sufficient for the angler's use. There are some 

 anglers about London who use ten, eleven and even 

 twelve hooks to their traces, but I cannot see the use of 

 so many they surely must scare away the fish. 



In the next place you must provide a ringed rod 

 about twelve or fourteen feet lonr, and somewhat stiffer 

 than your fly-rod, with a winch for your line ; and when 

 you go to the river where you intend to angle, let off as 

 much line as you think you can throw ; make a gentle 

 cast across the stream, causing the minnow to fall on the 

 water as lightly as possible ; then draw it gently across 

 the stream, sometimes letting it sink to near the bot- 

 tom, then rising it up again ; then draw it up the 

 stream, taking care that the minnow spins freely round, 



