NOTE 129 



which not being too much scoured, but green, are a choice bait 

 for him ; and so is cheese, which is not to be too hard, but kept 

 a day or two in wet linen cloth to make it tough ; with this 

 you may also bait the water a day or two before you fish for the 

 barbel, and be much the likelier to catch fish." 



Note to Chaptee IX 



1 have never heard that the barbel feeds on flies, bees, bugs, or 

 wasps. It is essentially a grubber on the bottom, as the forma- 

 tion of its mouth will proclaim, and it is a very amusing sight to 

 catch a. glimpse of a shoal of great barbel in a pool, standing 

 apparently on their heads. This attitude they frequently assume 

 when they join together for rooting amongst the mud or weeds of 

 their home. They are pretty omnivorous in character, and when 

 they are recovering from spawning, and are cleaning themselves 

 in the rough waters of weir pools, are frequently caught on the 

 minnow flights of the Thames trout-fisher. This, however, must 

 be regarded as quite outside the general rule of conduct, and the 

 popular stock baits for these fish are worms and greaves. The 

 barbel still yields remarkable sport of a fitful character in such 

 rivers as the Thames and Trent, and it is a pity that its flesh is 

 worth so little to the cook. — W. S. 



