78 ANGLING. 



or adopted various other baits to entrap this wary, shy-biting fish, 

 which we shall soon notice. 



The eggs of the barbel are supposed to be injurious and an 

 opinion once prevailed in the north of Europe, that they who 

 partook of them copiously would " shrink up in great danger of 

 fife." 



The barbel is a strong and powerful fish, and strong and 

 powerful tackle is commonly recommended in angling for him. 

 This is not necessary. The same tackle that will kill the salmon, 

 will, in skilful hands, bring the most powerful barbel to the creel ; 

 and, therefore, the angler who uses light tackle with this 

 cautious fish, has a much better chance of deceiving him, than 

 one who employs a coarser sort. The fishing materials suggested 

 for carp and tench will be found, under all circumstances, the best 

 adapted for this description of fish. 



The baits recommended are worms, tallow greaves, slugs, 

 gentles, grubs, and bits of cheese. To these the French anglers add 

 maggots found in dead rats, leeches, meat, cheese used in cooking 

 maccaroni, called la gruyere, and the yoke of eggs, all mixed up to- 

 gether to a proper consistency. The common red worm, when 

 clean and tough, is as good a bait as any of these mentioned, and 

 will be most effective if allowed to trail on the ground ; indeed, in 

 barbel-fishing, the bait should always touch the bottom. 



Running water is preferable to any other for the sport, and 

 a large shot ? cased in sand-coloured leather, a foot or two above 

 the hook, will keep it down without being perceived by the fish. 

 Leather is to be preferred to clay, which is commonly used, 

 because the latter will soon wash off, and, owing to the constant 

 kneadings required, assists in wearing the fine gut bottom. The 

 angler is better without a float. 



The night is the best time for catching barbel. Evening and 

 morning are likewise favourable periods ; but he will not bite well 

 in ^he full day, nor in bright moonlight nights. The barbel re- 

 quires time when he takes the bait, and a single short jerk is 

 necessary to fix the hook well in his leathery jaws. When hooked 

 he affords good sport with light tackle, because he is very strong 

 and active ; but when you have exhausted his vigour and got him 

 out, the best thing you can do, in the opinion of many rod-fishers, 

 is to throw him in again for another bout, as he is not worth his 

 salt in a culinary point of view. 



The receipt for ground-bait, without which there is little profit 

 in angling for this fish, is recorded in the instructions for carp-fishing, 

 and will serve for all fish which require such inducements. 



Barbel-fishing is not much sought after by regular and thorough- 

 going anglers. The fish is seldom to be caught unless the ground- 

 bait has been previously thrown in ; and even then, success is far 

 from being certain. Many London anglers are, however, fond of the 

 sport, and are remarkably skilful in it ; and, as the Thames abounds 

 in many localities with these fish, there is opened out a wide field 



