64 ANGLING. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



BOTTOM-FISHING. 



What to Fish for, and where, continued The Haunts of the Carp, 

 Tench, Barbel, Perch, Eels, and Lampreys. 



THE CAEP is one of the most difficult fish to catch in the 

 bottom-fisher's repertoire. Patience, skill, ingenuity, and 

 the most delicate and lightsome touch is necessary to hook 

 him, and when hooked difficult of management. He is, 

 however, much esteemed when caught, and furnishes a re- 

 spectable dish to the cook. It has not fallen to my lot to 

 catch more than three or four carp during my angling ex- 

 periences, and they were taken in a pond which was full of 

 them. I have been tolerably successful in capturing most 

 other fish, but the Fates in this instance were against me. 

 The tackle must be that recommended for roach-fishing, 

 fitted to a running line, and the hook should be a No. 8. 

 The difficulty of capturing this gentleman has suggested all 

 kinds of fanciful baits, scented pastes, green peas, green 

 gentles, larvce, grains, and worms, not forgetting a grass- 

 hopper or a bluebottle-fly. The difficulty in capturing 

 the .'.nrp arises from his sly method of nibbling away the 

 bait >vithout giving the expectant angler notice of his 

 intention ; for this reason I think that boiled wheat or malt 

 would be more likely to entice his lordship to take the hook 

 into his mouth, particularly if the pitch had been well 

 ground-baited. When hooked he will struggle gamely ; 

 but beware of the weeds In April or May sweet paste 

 made with honey, with a little scent, is said to entice them 

 to swallow the bait. Later in the year half a ripe cherry, 



