176 ANGLING 



kneaded into soft paste to form a bait, which should be 

 put upon a small roach-hook, and should not exceed in 

 size a common pea. Some anglers chew a little bread, 

 and throw it in for ground-bait, before commencing 

 operations. This is considered as a successful entice- 

 ment. At the slightest motion of the float, the angler 

 must give a gentle strike ; if the fish is not secured, he 

 must let the bait drop again into the same place. 



The striking of fish in these waters should be very 

 gently performed ; for the tackle being very light, and 

 the fish sometimes large, breakage is the natural result 

 of anything like vigorous rashness. When a fish is 

 hooked, the line should be kept straight, for if it be 

 slackened, the fish will probably get off. When there 

 is considerable resistance from the weight of the fish, 

 a little play must be used ; for if you keep him rigidly 

 by the head, his hold will likely give way, and he will 

 be once more at liberty. The adroit management of the 

 line is a great matter, and the proper application of the 

 angler's strength and power to the exigencies of the 

 case constitutes the entire art of bottom-fishing, so far 

 as the mere killing of the fish goes. That part of the 

 art which consists of a knowledge of the localities of 

 various kinds of fish, their habits, their hours of feeding, 

 and the favourable condition of the waters, can only 

 be thoroughly understood by continued practice and 

 careful and systematic observation. 



There are several private waters, let out by subscrip- 

 tion, in the immediate vicinity of London, where 

 bottom-fishing can be obtained. The cost of a day's 

 fishing here is trifling. These localities are very much 

 frequented by such sportsmen as have little time to 

 spare, and who just want a little run out to dissipate 

 the nervous excitement which a close application to 

 city business and duties necessarily produces on many 

 constitutions. There are three of these private fisheries 

 near the Shepherd's Bush, Bayswater, which lies within 

 a sixpenny ride from the Bank of England. They are 

 fair collections of water, have a tolerable stock of barbel, 

 roach, and dace, and there are accommodations for 



