140 BARBEL. 



Trent, and Yare contain large quantities of them. It 

 is fond of clear water, a deep place, and a gravelly 

 bottom, and may be taken all day long, in summer, if 

 there is a cloudy sky. The line must be a fine one, 

 with a quill float, and a hook, No. 8 or 9. The best 

 bait are small red-worms or brandlings, which should 

 be kept very near, or on the bottom. You should 

 strike immediately there is a bite, not giving the fish 

 much line. For a ground-bait, you may use clay and 

 worms, or worms alone, when the water is muddy. 

 The ruffe is a lively and free-biting fish, and affords 

 the young angler much amusement. 



XII. THE BARBEL. 



THERE are two modes of taking these fish: the one 

 with ordinary tackle ; the other, with a leger-line, from 

 the bank, as follows : Take a short stout rod, having 

 a winch, and about thirty yards of strong running- 

 line, with about a yard of strong gut at the bottom, 

 and a hook of No. 6 or 7, or, as some prefer, a double- 

 hook, No. 10; or two of these hooks, one hanging a 

 foot above the other. No float is necessary, but 

 instead, you place a piece of lead, called a leger-lead, 

 (sold at the tackle-shops,) about a foot distant from the 

 hook, below which a large shot is put, to prevent it 

 from slipping down the line. The leger is then 

 attached to the running -line by a slip-loop knot. The 

 best bait is, probably, greaves ; or a worm, or a gentle, 

 will sometimes answer well ; but in that case, the hook 

 should be a No. 8, of strong wire. Soaked greaves, 



