j6 ANGLING 



" float " the swim instead of " plumb or leger fishing " it, the 

 latter being the mode very generally practised by Thames 

 anglers. " Floating " is the Nottingham method of barbelling, 

 and is usually the most killing, besides being the more lively 

 and entertaining kind of fishing. Of course the water to be 

 fished has to be taken into consideration : if there are deep 

 strong eddies and rushes of water, then legering is the more 

 effective style, as there might be difficulty in keeping the 

 bait near the bottom and so effectively working it, but for 

 other water "floating" is to be preferred. By "floating" a 

 swim the water can be constantly fished over the whole length, 

 sometimes 50 or 60 yards, but it is not desirable to fish the 

 swim for more than 20 or 30 yards ; whereas in " legering " the 

 bait when once thrown in is kept in one position by the heavy 

 lead leger which is used. With regard to " ground baiting " a 

 barbel swim, it is desirable to bait the swim to be fished 24 

 hours Mr. Hopper prefers 36 hours before fishing it. 

 Whether worms or " scratching," otherwise greaves (being the 

 refuse of the fatty materials out of which tallow is made) are 

 used as the ground bait, they should be inclosed in hollow clay 

 balls of about the size of a man's two fists, and dropped over 

 the side of the boat. Or a "pudding" can be made by 

 mixing up the "greaves " with mud and clay into a fairly stiff 

 lump, and in like manner put over the boat side or end ; but it 

 is scarcely necessary to make use of clay balls or puddings if 

 the place to be baited be what is known as dead water or a 

 very slow stream. Only sufficient ground bait should be put 

 in so as to provide for its being consumed some hours before 

 the swim is to be fished ; in other words the amount should be 

 so adjusted as to allow an interval for the fish to regain their 

 appetites. 



Both nicety and judgment are required in ground baiting 

 a swim. The angler must avoid glutting the fish, and on the 

 other hand should not put in too little and thus leave them 

 without anything to attract or amuse them in the interval 

 between their eating the ground bait and the angler fishing it. 

 The angler must be guided by his knowledge of the river 



