26 FISHING GOSSIP. 



the adjustment be nicely effected, otherwise the loach 

 may float too high or run too near the bottom to 

 attract the attention of the fish. One operation more 

 the attachment of the loach to the hook and the 

 mount is complete. This was effected in various 

 ways. I shall describe but one of them : the hook 

 in this method was simply introduced into the mouth 

 of the loach, carried down superficially in the flesh 

 of the little animal along the mesial line of its side, 

 as if putting on a common worm, and the point made 

 to protrude as far as the bend, at a little less than 

 two-thirds of the whole length of the bait from the 

 head. Making the whole straight, a bit of fine waxed 

 silk was knotted round the nose of the little creature, 

 then knotted round the gut of the link, and the job 

 was completed. Two and sometimes three small 

 hooks were employed, but they were found more com- 

 plex and less efficient in practice than the single 

 hook. The season for this description of fishing pre- 

 sents an extensive range for selection. One of the 

 largest fishings with the loach which I recollect to 

 have seen made, was about the middle of February. 

 Eleven fish, from 3 to 7 Ibs., were taken by one rod ; 

 but it was a gratuitous and perhaps unjustifiable 

 slaughter, the fish not having entirely recovered from 

 spawning, and being of inferior quality. The season 

 may therefore be considered to extend from March to 

 September inclusive. On any day during this period, 



