57 



bits and others have not tasted. None have had a chance of 

 filling their bellies, and those that have tasted are very keen and 

 eager for more. The next lot I throw in is a vf ell-scoured female 

 lob on my hook, which is picked up the moment it gets to the 

 bottom. He that has got it will find it rather difficult of digestion, 

 and not so palatable as he at first might fancy it would be. "Well, 

 I have got them on the bite every swim, and I have caught five 

 or six fish in as many swims ; but it would' not be judicious to 

 go on at this rate, as I have created some alarm amongst those 

 that are left. The rushing and dashing about in all directions 

 of some of their relatives have bamboozled and frightened them, 

 and made them somewhat restless, so I give them a few more 

 worms, lay my rod on the bank and light a pipe or cigar, leaving 

 them unmolested for two or three minutes that they may recover 

 from their surprise and consternation. Then I go at it again 

 and kUl four or five more fish before giving them any more worms, 

 and when I do so I only let them have a few as before. This is 

 a sure and certain game ; but even with this treatment I have 

 generally found them to go off biting after fishing for three or 

 four hours, and, observe, I always expect this, and when I come 

 to have five or six swims without a bite, I know they have gone 

 off biting — ^not because they have been satiated with the worms 

 which I have been throwing in, but because they have been 

 continually disturbed and rendered shy by thehooking and killing 

 of their neighbours. I know they vrill come on again in an hour or 

 two, so I leave the place without throwing in another worm. Some 

 Barbel fishers at this stage of the game recommend giving the 

 fish two or three hundred worms, and l,eave them. It is in my 

 opinion a very bad plan. The fish recover, and eat of the 

 worms till they are satisfied while the Anglers are away. 

 They have had enough for that day, and if you think of 

 catching them you must call to-morrow. The Barbel fisher 

 when he returns again finds it no go, so he laps up his tackle 

 and bolts home, believing that he did not leave a fish in 

 the place. I like to be fishing while the fish are eating the 

 worms that I have thrown in, and then there can be no mistake. 



