BARBEL. 14 L 



bran, and clay, mixed together, and made up into balls, 

 make the best ground-bait, which should be liberally 

 used. When you let drop your baited hook into the 

 stream, see that there is no more line than will enable 

 you to keep the point of your rod over the leger. 

 When the fish bites, it will draw your line through 

 the leger, and then you must at once strike hard, or 

 firmly, so that the hook may be sure to enter the mouth 

 of the fish, which is very tough. It is to be observed, 

 that the rod should not be held up, as usual, but the 

 point downwards, so as almost to touch the water. 



When you fish for barbel with a float, &c., you must, 

 if there be anything of a stream, use a cork float, a 

 fine gut line, and a hook of No. 7 or 8 size. In the 

 Lea-river, and similar places, finer tackle had better be 

 used, with a quill float, and a hook of the size No. 10, 

 but rather stout in its make. The bait should be red 

 worms, gentles, or greaves, the one being changed for 

 the other, if expedient ; and it should drag a couple of 

 inches on the ground. The barbel is a very lively and 

 strong fish; he bites sharp, and pulls down the float very 

 suddenly. Some skill and management are therefore 

 necessary to take him, and avoid breaking your line. To 

 guard against this, attend to the following directions: 

 When you have cast your baited hook into the water, 

 raise your rod, so that the point of it is kept over 

 the float, and the line taut, so that the moment 

 there is a bite you may be able to strike the fish. 

 Almost simultaneously with this, let your line go, so 

 that he may run, as he will do, without breaking your 

 line. Now, the thing is, to run him backwards and 



