24 A BOOK ON ANGLING 



bread, and what not ; an occasional ball or two mixed up with 

 clay, of about the size of a plum, is useful to keep the ground 

 baited ; but this is a very different thing from casting in 

 five or ten at a time, as big as large oranges. 



For casting in loose, in eddies, either gentles, scalded 

 greaves, or chopped worms, may be used ; these baits are 

 likely to attract barbel to the swim also ; or any of the above- 

 named hook-baits, as bran (wetted) with ground barley, 

 boiled wheat, grains, rice boiled, or baker's raspings. Some 

 anglers use bread, but I cannot bring myself to like this 

 plan ; it goes entirely against my grain to take a half-quartern 

 loaf and cast if to the fishes ; it smacks too much of " taking 

 the children's bread and casting it to the dogs," and seems 

 to me too wholesale a waste. When used, it is soaked and 

 squeezed up with the bran ; but a handful or two of refuse 

 rice is a much better and handier bait. It is a very good plan 

 to damp the bran slightly, and mixing with a handful or two 

 of pollard or meal and a little rice, to squeeze it, and work 

 it lightly together over a small pebble into balls about the 

 size of large plums. This can be used instead of the clay bait, 

 when the stream is only moderately rapid ; it breaks directly 

 it touches the bottom, and scatters all over the swim ; but as 

 it is soon swept away, a small ball now and then of clay, as 

 recommended above, is advisable. If fishing with paste, a 

 few pellets thrown in now and then near the float, will be 

 found advisable. Other anglers use bullock's brains as a 

 ground-bait ; but as it seems that it is necessary to chew 

 them raw a process my gorge rises at the thought of I 

 have never tried them. In the midland counties, however, 

 particularly on the Trent, the bait is in great request, and is 

 called by anglers " pith." But if gentles, greaves, worms, 

 pearl barley, rice, and paste fail, the angler may very reason- 

 ably give up fishing. Although roach are not supposed to be 

 fish-eaters, I have often seen and heard of their running at 

 and taking a spinning bait ; but I look upon such facts as 

 mere aberrations. 



THE RUDD (Leuciscus Erythrophthalmus) 



is a widely distributed fish, being found in many lakes, ponds, 

 and rivers throughout the kingdom. The Norfolk Broads 

 contain great quantities of them, as do some of the Irish 

 lakes. I have taken large numbers in Osterly Park. They are 



