64 ANGLING. 



CIIAPTEE VIII. 



BOTTOM-FISHINa. 



What to Pish for, and where, continued — The Haunts of the Carp, 

 Tench, Barbel, Perch, Eels, and Lampreys. 



The Caep is one of tlie most difficult fish, to catch in the 

 bottom-fisher's repertoire. Patience, skill, ingenuity, and 

 the most delicate and lightsome touch is necessary to hook 

 him, and when hooked difiicult of management. He is, 

 however, much esteemed when caught, and furnishes a re- 

 spectable dish to the cook. It has not fallen to my lot to 

 catch more than three or four carp during my angling ex- 

 periences, and they were taken in a pond which was full of 

 them. I have been tolerably successful in capturing most 

 other fish, but the Fates in this instance were against me. 

 The tackle must be that recommended for roach-fishing, 

 fitted to a running line, and the hook should be a JSTo. 8. 

 The difficulty of capturing this gentleman has suggested all 

 kinds of fanciful baits, scented pastes, green peas, green 

 gentles, larvae, grains, and worms, not forgetting a grass- 

 hopper or a bluebottle-fly. The difficulty in capturing 

 the jarp arises from his sly method of nibbling away the 

 bait without giving the expectant angler notice of his 

 intention; for this reason I think that boiled wheat or malt 

 would be more likely to entice his lordship to take the hook 

 into his mouth, particularly if the pitch had been well 

 ground-baited. When hooked he will struggle gamely ; 

 but beware of the weeds In April or May sweet paste 

 made with honey, with a little scent, is said to entice them 

 to swallow the bait. Later in the year half a ripe cherry, 



