44 ANGLING. 



little play ; tiie line must be kept tight to prevent him 

 going just where he listeth. He will soon begin to tire, 

 and show by his languid and enfeebled fins that he is suc- 

 cumbing to the influences and skill brought against him. 

 Then bring a taut and shortened line to bear on him; show 

 him the butt-end of your rod, and bring his head above 

 water. Be careful, for he may want another swim or two, 

 and if so, indulge him, or slip the landing-net under him ; 

 let him drop into it, and try another. 



Sometimes when fishing with fine and delicate roach 

 tackle you may hook a large fish, which will try all your 

 skill. Your temper must be as smooth as a placid lake, 

 and your wrist as firm and as pliable as a fly-fisher's ere 

 you can land the monster who is enthralled by the single 

 horse-hair line and diminutive hook. It will require all 

 your skill and address, but it may and can be done, and 

 you may boast of the event with real pride, as showing 

 that the despised bottom-fishing is as excitingly full of 

 doubt, suspense, and fear as the salmon fisher could desire 

 on the Shannon rapids at Castle Connell. 



The bottom-fisher requires no little patience, a tolerable 

 selection of baits the best of which I have endeavoured to 

 describe ; and ere I pass to the consideration of the baits, let 

 me dwell for a few minutes whilst I show, as clearly as I 

 can, how to bait the hook with a worm or worms. You must 

 first rub the ends of your forefinger and thumb of both hands 

 in sand, bran, or dry earth, to prevent the worm slipping, or 

 otherwise you will have great difficulty in properly adjust- 

 ing the slimy gentleman on the hook. Insert the point of 

 the hook at the head of the worm, and work it gently over 

 the bend, and up the shank, and along the line, until not 

 more than a quarter of an inch or so hangs beyond the 



