THE CARP OR TENCH. 155 



fruits and vegetables. In the use of peas, Taylor's plan is to 

 hang one on the hook, about a foot from the ground, and 

 throwing in a few now and then by way of a lure. In order 

 to insure success at any time in taking the carp, ground-bait 

 should be used in all cases, and in the evening previous to 

 your expected sport, if possible. 



Of the requisite Tackle, and Manner of Taking the 

 Carp, Hofland gives the following : " Notwithstanding the 

 instances of familiarity, it is by no means easy to make a large 

 carp familiar with your bait : to do this, the greatest nicety 

 and caution must be observed ; but if the young Angler, who 

 has been often foiled in his attempts, will patiently and im- 

 plicitly follow my instructions, he will become a match for 

 this cunning fish. 



" Use a strong rod with running tackle, and have a bot 

 torn of three yards of fineish gut, and a hook No 9 or 10 ; 

 use a very light quill float, that will carry two small shot, 

 and bait with a well scoured red worm. 



" Now plumb the depth with the greatest nicety, and let 

 your bait just touch, or all but touch the bottom ; but you are 

 not yet prepared ; for a forked stick must be fixed in the 

 bank, on which you must let your rod rest, so that your float 

 shall exactly cover the spot you have just plumbed. Now 

 throw in a sufficient quantity of ground-bait, of bread and 

 bran, worked into a paste, and made into little balls ; or in 

 want of these, throw in the garbage of chickens or ducks ; 

 and all this is to be done the evening of the day before you 

 intend to fish. 



" The next morning, if in summer, be at the pond side 

 where you have baited and plumbed your depth, by four 

 o'clock, at latest, and taking your rod and line, which is 

 already fixed to the exact depth, bait with a small, bright 

 red worm ; then approach the water cautiously, keeping out 

 of sight as much as possible, and drop your bait exactly over 



