26 FISHING GOSSIP. 
the adjustment be nicely effected, otherwise the loach 
may float too high or run too near the bottom to 
attract the attention of the fish. One operation more 
—the attachment of the loach to the hook—and the 
mount is complete. This was effected in various 
ways. I shall describe but one of them: the hook 
in this method was simply introduced into the mouth 
of the loach, carried down superficially in the flesh 
of the little animal along the mesial line of its side, 
as if putting on a common worm, and the point made 
to protrude as far as the bend, at a little less than 
two-thirds of the whole length of the bait from the 
head. Making the whole straight, a bit of fine waxed 
silk was knotted round the nose of the little creature, 
then knotted round the gut of the link, and the job 
was completed. Two and sometimes three small 
hooks were employed, but they were found more com- 
plex and less efficient in practice than the single 
hook. The season for this description of fishing pre- 
sents an extensive range for selection. One of the 
largest fishings with the loach which I recollect to 
have seen made, was about the middle of February. 
Eleven fish, from 3 to 7 lbs., were taken by one rod; 
but it was a gratuitous and perhaps unjustifiable 
slaughter, the fish not having entirely recovered from 
spawning, and being of inferior quality. The season 
may therefore be considered to extend from March to 
September inclusive. On any day during this period, 
