27 



You must not be too hasty with a gudgeon when 

 he bites ; for sometimes he will nibble at your bait 

 a little, as if he had a mind to taste it first, and see 

 if he likes it; but he will come again, arid then you 

 will have him, unless he has discovered the 

 hook, when you must use another kind of bait. 



In the Thames, fish for them with a red worm, 

 gentle, or blood worms, gut or hair line, and No. 9 

 or 10 hook. In the Lea or New River, use a finer 

 tackle, and bait with blood worms. 



Bleak and Minnow. 



Bleak are found in all rivers in immense num- 

 bers; they are handsome fish, but do not grow to 

 a large size. Angle for them with a light rod, 

 single hair line, small quill float, and No. 12 or 13 

 hook. They will bite all day from April till 

 October, affording the young angler sport and 

 practice. Bait with a few gentles; or use three or 

 four different baits, as for instance a blood-worm, 

 gentle, cadis, a common house fly, or a bit of red 

 paste. 



For minnows, bait with a blood-worm, a bit of 

 red worm, gentles, or paste. Throw in occasionally 

 a few grains or chewed bread to keep them near 

 the bait. They may be taken from April to 

 October any time throughout the day. 



Bream. 



The bream grows to a very large size, sometimes 

 five or six pounds. They frequent the broadest 

 parts of the river, where it is deep and the stream 

 gentle. They are also to be found in mill-ponds, 

 in the vicinity of weeds, and in clayey or muddy 

 bottoms. The larger ones are called carp bream, 



