86 ANGLING. 



and the iish is frequently occupied an entire montli in the difficult 

 process. Towards^ the autumn, the gudgeons gain the lakes. 3 ' 

 This does not appear to be the general opinion, neither do we 

 acquiesce in it ; but other grave angling authorities seem to enter- 

 tain some such notions _ as to the migratory habits of this fish, 

 although their language is, for the most part, somewhat vague and 

 uncertain. 



Gudgeons undoubtedly multiply prodigiously, and in certain 

 favourable situations are to be found in immense quantities. They 

 are used in some parts of France to stock lakes, ponds, and rapid 

 streams, as food for pike, eels, and trout. 



Gudgeons may be caught all the year round, but August and 

 September are the best months. In favourable weather they will 

 keep the angler well employed, and he may fill his basket in a very 

 short time. 



The rod used in gudgeon-fishing should be an extremely light 

 one, made of cane, and without much spring in it. The line should 

 be all gut, or, at any rate, not more than three hairs thick, if of 

 horse-hair, with^very small hook, say No. 13. A float is sometimes 

 used, but we think it better dispensed with. The best mode is to 

 fix a small bullet to the end of the line, fasten one hook below the 

 lead, so as to let it drag on the bottom, and suspend two or three 

 others at short intervals above it. The bullet is dropped into a 

 likely part of the stream, and the hooks, baited with a very small 

 red worm, or gentle, or grub (the worm is the best), are suffered to 

 lie on the bottom, or work about in the naming water. When 

 the gudgeon takes the ^ bait, he will make little short jerks, which 

 are easily perceptible if the line be held tight, and the angler be 

 careful not to be too quick for him. 



The best general baits for gudgeons are small red worms, grubs, 

 and gentles. The very small grubs to be found sometimes under 

 antique cow-manure, in company with an admirable red worm, are 

 very tempting bait, which we have seen the gudgeons take with 

 great rapidity. When the red worm is used, it should but just fit 

 the hook, like a tight glove ; to accomplish this, it is often neces- 

 sary to bait only with the shining red head of the worm. If the 

 bait hang loose, the gudgeons will bother you like eels, and you 

 will hardly ever succeed in hooking them. 



Some amateurs recommend baskets containing the leaves of 

 marsh-mallows, with a paste made of hemp-seed, to be sunk in the 

 water previous to angling for gudgeons, as a kind of ground-bait ; 

 and others again suggest the propriety of raking the bottom of the 

 water, under the notion that when it is thus muddled, the gudgeons 

 imagine they are about to obtain a copious supply of food. The 

 latter plan is frequently attended with some degree of success in 

 tranquil waters, but in streams it is of course useless. 



When the gudgeon is well cleaned, and wiped perfectly dry, rub 

 over with egg and bread-crumbs, fried crisp in butter, and served 

 up with hot melted butter, along with well-buttered hot household 



