PRACTICAL LESSONS IN THE GENTLE CRAFT. 521 



barbel that he favours the angler with at such times. A 

 capital plan for their capture when they come upon a 

 barbel swim, is to fit up a small hook upon a length of gut, 

 and so affixed to the leger bottom that it hangs close to 

 the larger lump of greaves destined for the bigger fish 

 thus, when these little pests, at such times, rush at the big 

 piece of greaves, one or other of their number is certain to 

 swallow the small bit, and come to bag, where one might 

 strike all day at their sharp tugs at the larger baits, without 

 once hooking one of them. It is always a good sign when 

 dace on a sudden cease biting on a barbel swim. Rely upon 

 it, that larger fish have hustled the little thieves away, and 

 that the probabilities are that while barbel or chub are on 

 the bottom inspecting your bait, preparatory to a final 

 smack at it, the dace have risen over them as a flight of 

 wood pigeons will watch a hawk. During the summer, 

 supposing the angler to be bottom fishing, it is always 

 advisable to fish rather off than on the bottom for dace ; 

 for, unlike the roach, they seek the swifter runs of water, 

 such as the angle of two sharp streams, or the races of mill- 

 wheels, and there, stemming the current, lie poised and 

 waiting for chance food that may come down. In such a 

 place, where eddies and back currents whirl the waters 

 back and forth in tortuous fashion, drop in the plummet, 

 and set the bait four or five inches from the ground. A 

 light, handy rod is required, a little springy in its action, 

 fine running tackle and a fair sized cork or quill float, well 

 shotted, and yet of such buoyancy as to resist the suction 

 and swirl of the heavy stream ; then let the stream take 

 the baited hook and the lure may be caddis, red worm, 

 or gentles right down away among the sharpest whirls 

 and eddies. Here lie the dace, and the instant the bait 

 reaches them away goes the float, and good sport ensues at 



