BOTTOM-FISHING. 121 



you may land or boat him with safety. Should you be 

 without this, you must do the best you can, taking 

 the fish to a shallow inlet or a level shore. The most 

 skilful management is called for in landing your fish; 

 and upon the amount of skill you have attained to, will 

 be the size of the line arid hook you may angle with. 

 Some anglers will take a fish of seven or eight pounds 

 weight with a line and hook that would be too fragile 

 for others with fish of a pound weight. 



Having unhooked your fish with the disgorger, if 

 necessary, as directed in p. 85 clear the hook of the 

 remains of the old bait, put on a fresh one, throw a 

 ball or two of ground-bait into the swim, if required, 

 and then commence as before. The ground-bait should 

 not be thrown in, however, too often, nor unnecessarily. 

 If you have got the fish well together, abstain from 

 throwing it in, as it has a tendency to disturb the 

 water, and frighten the fish. 



When your line becomes ragged or chafed, rub it up 

 and down with a piece of India-rubber. This will 

 also straighten a gut or a hair that has been kept 

 coiled-up. 



Should you break your hook, or line, or rod, sit down 

 and repair it, according to the directions already given. 

 When you want to tie a knot in joining a line, first 

 soak it in warm water, if you can; if not, hold it in 

 your mouth until it becomes soft. 



Never attempt to lift a fish out of the water by 

 laying hold of any part of your line ; if you do, the 

 chances are that you break it. 



When fishing for barbel in deep or rapid streams, 

 the baited hook should drag several inches on the 

 ground. When angling for these, and roach, chub, 



