BLEAK. 123 



I. THE BLEAK. 



This fish, as already stated, is found in almost all clear 

 streams, generally about mid-water, or at the depth of 

 three feet in deep places. In summer weather it will 

 take a bait of various kinds. 



The rod for taking bleak should be a very light one; 

 that is, it should be of white cane, stiff-jointed, and 

 running to a very fine top or point. It should be 

 about thirteen feet in length. To the rod should be 

 attached a single hair line, about five feet long, with a 

 very small quill, or, as it is called, a " tip-capped 

 float ;" or a porcupine quill, which will carry eight or 

 ten split shot, of the size No. 7, or two or three only 

 of a larger size. The hook should be a No. 13, fine 

 wire. Provide yourself with some carrion gentles, a 

 few liver gentles for your hook, some bread of the pre- 

 ceding day's bake, and a little bran. Choose a mode- 

 rately still part of the river, off a bridge or a wharfing; 

 or select a bank where the water is moderately deep, 

 still, and clear. Having put your tackle into neat 

 order, so adjusted your float that your bait may swim 

 about three feet below the surface, bait your hook with 

 a single gentle, according to the directions already 

 given, taking especial care that the hook may not be 

 exposed, on the one hand, nor the gentle extend much 

 beyond its point, on the other. Next, throw in, just 

 above where you stand, a small quantity of the carrion 

 gentles, with a little of the sand in which they have 

 been kept, and a little damped bran. As this swims 

 past, gently drop your baited hook in the water, and 

 you will scarcely fail to have a bite almost instantly. 

 Another good bait for bleak is the paste made by 

 slightly wetting, or chewing a piece of bread, and 



