BARBEL AND BREAM. 47 



"Traveller" is annexed, showing the gut "stop" knotted in 

 the line. 



To fish a Barbel swim successfully, it should be well ground- 

 baited the previous day with lobworms. If it is an eddy or al- 

 most dead-water, these may be thrown in without mixing with 

 anything else, but if there is much stream, the greater portion 

 should be made into clay balls, thus : take some clay (which 

 may be generally found in the river bank) and working it 

 into large balls, press a good-sized hole in each, fill with 

 worms and stop it up tightly. Throw these towards the head 

 of the swim ; the worms working out are sure to be carried 

 far enough down by the stream, whereas, if thrown in without 

 clay as some writers recommend, they would soon be washed 

 anywhere but where you wanted them. 



The following day, when you commence fishing throw in 

 about twenty or thirty lobs (each being cut into about four 

 pieces) sufficiently above where you fish to allow the stream 

 to work them down the swim. Remember that the bait 

 should always be in advance of the float, and as little line as 

 possible in the water between it and the top of the rod. It 

 must be evident, that when the float is swimming first and 

 dragging the bait after it, the shot must come first against 

 the nose of the Barbel ; and even if he should see the bait, 

 he has to take the trouble to turn round and swim after it j 

 not only disturbing his own equanimity, but probably up- 

 setting the little domestic arrangements of some other greedy 

 old epicure, who, had you not interfered with the first old 

 gentleman would have remained very quietly sucking in 

 the juicy little morsels like a city Magnate over his turtle, 

 till a fine luscious lob sailed stately down towards him ; 

 he would then gently have opened his leathery mouth and 

 allowed it quietly to glide in; discovering, to his sorrow, 

 when you proceed to disturb his balmy reveries abruptly 

 with a sudden jerk, that "all is not gold that glitters" 

 Therefore to prevent any such unfortunate contretemps, and 

 to ensure a good day's sport as far as lies in your power, pro- 

 ceed in a careful manner. Should you be fishing from a 

 punt, with the wind blowing slightly up-stream, your task 

 will be so much the more easy. By raising the top of the 

 rod and allowing the line to run out slowly, you keep it as 



