TENCH-FISHING 149 



to his behaviour in an aquarium, whereof I was the sedulous 



guardian in days long since gone by. As a sporting fish he 



Angling has never tightened line of mine ; I rely, therefore, 



for Tench, upon Mr. Wheeley as a guide to the art of taking 



him with hook and line. 



The method seems to be much the same as in fishing for 

 carp, either with the float, in the manner known as " tight 

 corking " — that is, with a short straight line from the rod-point 

 to the float — or with the ledger. If tench are about and in the 

 humour to feed, the sport is often fast and very brisk ; for the 

 tench will not yield up his loafing, leisurely existence without a 

 stifle fight, and is a powerful swimmer when put to it. But 

 tench may be about, yet nothing be found to induce them 

 to take the bait. " You may fish," says Mr. Wheeley, " for, 

 days, and not get a single tench ; then they will suddenly feed 

 and you may fill your basket in no time." Hot weather is best 

 for this sport, under the shade of trees. The likeHest baits are 

 the same as those recommended for carp. 



