THE CHUB. 91 



beetle, grasshopper or moth, but let a frog sink a 

 little. You will perhaps see your chub sail up 

 quietly ; do not then on any account hurry to strike 

 him, or jump up in your excitement. When he 

 has fairly got the bait, hit hard, allow no law, and 

 stick to him at all costs. 



I would strongly advise trying alongside barges 

 when traveller-floating for chub, especially Barge - 

 when punt-fishing. An old barge, moored swims 

 for a long while in one spot, often harbours chub if 

 there be a good stream underneath to keep mud 

 away. One old barge nearly always yielded me a 

 chub on the first swim down, although she was only 

 about two feet off the bottom when the river was 

 low ; she is now quite sunk, and one of my best and 

 favourite swims is spoilt. I took care to keep the 

 punt well above the barge, and to see that she did 

 not sway about or bump the sides of the barge. 

 Pitching in a few pellets of groundbait, I ran my 

 float down, making it actually rub along the side 

 of the barge, but stopping it before it reached the 

 stern, as there was some broken ironwork pro- 

 jecting. The bait seldom got more than half way 

 down the barge's side when the float disappeared ; 

 striking sideways, I dragged the fish out from his 

 shelter, and he was generally a big one. For some 

 reason or other, macaroni proved exceptionally 

 killing in this swim : why, I cannot say ; the chub 

 there apparently liked it better than anything 

 else. This bait is a fine showy one, three Macar- 

 dangling strips of macaroni on a triangle oni bait 

 tickle a chub's fancy uncommonly. To make the 

 bait, put some macaroni and cheese in a pie-dish, 

 the cheese in small pieces ; pour on some boiling 



