122 BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES 



fashion upon three or four inches of porcupine quill. In both 

 cases it is important that it should be " a traveller " ; that is, 

 that it should not be tightly fixed to the line, which must be 

 allowed to run freely through two rings upon the float, one 

 upon the side of the cork, the other at the lower end of the 

 quill, in order to ensure that the fish be effectually struck. 

 The float is kept at the required position while fishing by a 

 temporary stop, formed by giving the line above the float 

 a couple of half-hitches round a small splinter of stick or 

 piece of reed. 



The line below the float must be weighted, so as to keep 

 the bait tripping along the bottom as it is carried down stream, 

 a knack which can only be acquired by practice. One great 

 advantage of the float over the ledger is that it can be fished 

 over a long swim. The ledger can only be dropped in the 

 vicinity of the punt, whereas the float can be travelled from 

 a great distance over the chosen spot where the ground-bait 

 has been laid, and thus the risk of alarming the fish with 

 the punt-pole and ryepecks is avoided. 



The baits for barbel are few and simple. Lobworms, 

 gentles, greaves, and cheese-paste — if these fail, Mr. Wheeley 

 recommends cold mutton-fat. At times barbel take the live 

 minnow, and Mr. Wheeley mentions the capture of a nine- 

 pounder at Teddington on a black-beetle. 



Ground-baiting is indispensable, and should be liberally 

 carried out, so as to draw the fish to the appointed swim. 

 If the water is of medium speed, a thousand or so of lob- 

 worms may be thrown in overnight, and a handful or two added 

 in the morning before beginning to fish. But in swift, strong 

 water the process is difi^erent. Clean strong clay, mixed with 

 bran, is kneaded into lumps, with a hollow in each large enough 

 to contain a handful of lobworms. The clay is then closed over 

 the worms, and flung into the water, when the worms, which 

 •otherwise would be swept away at once, will escape gradually. 

 If your swim has been judiciously chosen and the weather 



