98 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



* The otter "vents" when he rises to the surface to breathe. 

 He cannot remain long under water without breathing. 



6 If only Walton's warning had been heeded, many a happy 

 hunting-ground for the angler would have been spared from de- 

 struction. Fishermen have selfishly killed the goose with the 

 golden eggs. The fence months on the Thames are for trout 

 from the loth September to the 25th January on the lower waters, 

 and until the ist April on the upper; and for pike, roach, dace, 

 chub, barbel, and gudgeon, the months of March, April, and May. 



Salmon may not be caught with the net between ist September 

 and ist February, or with the rod between ist November and 

 ist February. 



6 Salmon spawn in November and December. See note on the 

 salmon, post. 



t The water-rat or more properly speaking, the water-vole is 

 not an enemy of fish. Its diet is a vegetable one. It has often, 

 however, to bear the sins of the common rat, which, when it 

 establishes itself by the waterside, is destructive enough, I ask all 

 anglers to spare the pretty water-vole. 



PRACTICAL ESSAY. 



Before giving instructions how to angle for particular fish, it will 

 be well to speak of angling generally, reserving our note on the 

 chub for the Appendix to the next chapter. 



Angling may be broadly divided into three kinds : Fishing on 



