64 ART OF ANGLING. 



ticular is said to operate as a very strong eme- 

 tic and cathartic, and is sometimes taken in a 

 small quantity as common physic. It is in its 

 prime in August and September. 



It usually spawns in April and May, accord- 

 ing to the warmth or coldness of the season ; 

 and at this period it rushes up the river and 

 deposits the spawn, in stony places, in the most 

 rapid parts of the current. 



The best time to fish for Barbel is during the 

 months of July, August, and September, early 

 in the morning and late in the evening ; the most 

 killing baits are the spawn of Salmon, Trout, or 

 indeed of any other fish, especially if it be 

 fresh, respecting which the Barbel is very cun- 

 ning ; well-scoured lob-worms, red worms and 

 maggots, and chandlers' greaves, are all good 

 baits ; it will sometimes take toasted cheese, or 

 sheep's suet and cheese made into paste with a 

 little honey. It is advisable to bait the places 

 three or four times before you begin angling, 

 either with spawn or a quantity of worms cut 

 in pieces. The rod and line, with which you 

 fish for Barbel, must both be extremely long, 

 the bottom tackle equally fine as for Carp, the 

 hook No. 7 or 8, using a large quill float ; the 

 line to be well-leaded about nine inches from 

 the hook, as it is a fish that invariably feeds on 

 the bottom. The Barbel is a very sharp biter, 



