249 



You may use two or three rods, especially where the 

 Stream is moderate, and the water deep : in such places, 

 however, you will probably find barbel, and large eels, 

 which are generally caught promiscuously when angling 

 for this fish ; especially in gloomy weather. 



When the tide comes in strong, the flounders are all 

 on the alert, and bite very sharp, particularly in the slow 

 eddies which flow over flat sandy banks, after the water 

 has passed through a bridge, &:c. They are not particu- 

 lar as to hours, nor, indeed, in regard to weather, so 

 much as most fishes. 



When you hook a flounder, treat him gently, for he is 

 a great struggler, and will sometimes hug the bottom, or 

 skim under a bank, so as to give you much trouble j be- 

 sides, many of them grow to near a pound weight, and 

 require good gut to hold them in. 



Their hold is apt to break if you strike too soon -, there- 

 fore, it is best to allow a few seconds for the fish to gorge 

 your bait, then you will make sure of him. Observe, 

 that a small brandling, or a blood-worm, are the best 

 baits - } and that, if the flounders run small, you should 

 use a hook in proportion ; sometimes minnow -hooks, 

 i. e. No. 9 and 1O, are most serviceable. 



Much cannot be said in praise of the Jlounder, as an 

 article for the table ; but, when very fresh, they arc 

 sweet and nourishing. Those taken in brackish water, 

 and in the tide's way, are generally smaller, but much 

 firmer, than such as are taken further up the rivers, 

 which they ascend sometimes to very near their sources. 



Thejlounder spawns some time in the summer j gene- 

 rally about the beginning of June 3 though some do not 

 cast till September*, while others cast in April and May : 

 M 5 this 



