60 



baited— two gentlemen and myself. The sky was cloudless, and 

 the sun very hot, with scarcely a breath of wind, which made 

 things look rather awkward, and made me feel the chaff and 

 sarcasm of the two gentlemen rather sharply. I certainly never 

 saw a worse morning for Barbel fishing in my life, there was 

 not a single thing in our favour ; but stiU I had some confidence 

 on account of the arrangements I had made, which 1 felt sure 

 would answer the purpose if we went quietly to work. The 

 gentlemen were down in the mouth, and the little confidence 

 they had was greatly shaken when I told, them what the person 

 who met me coming from ground baiting had related, for they 

 knew that he was a first-rate Barbel fisher ; but I told them to 

 cheer up, for patience and perseverance might work wonders. 

 When we had got to the spot, I said to the one, " stand you 

 there," and to the other, " stand you here," stir for nothing, 

 and be as stiLL as death ; whatever you want doing I will do it ; 

 all I require of you is to stand still and kill the fish. Now you 

 shall see that this place was fished in a difierent style to what 

 is usually done. The water was about nine feet deep and as 

 clear as glass. The swim was not quick, and in water of this 

 description I generally go up five or six yards from where I 

 stand to fish to throw the worms, and catch the fish eight or ten 

 yards below me, so that the worms swim fourteen or fifteen yards 

 before they get to the bottom ; but in this case I threw thfe 

 worms two yards below where we were standing, so that the 

 fish would be nearly twenty yards from us. Well, the first 

 swim both got hold together and killed two Barbel ; the next 

 swim they killed two more ; then one killed and the other 

 missed. When we had caught nine, one gent said, " this is first- 

 rate sport — better than we expected ; if they take the bait at 

 this rate for three or four hours we shall have a load, 

 that's certain. I shall go and stand eight or ten yards below ; 

 I don't fancy such a long swim, you see we cannot get a bite 

 until the float is twenty yards from us." " No," I said, " you 

 must not stir a yard, the fish are biting every swim, what more do 

 you want ? Tou are doing well, so be satisfied, and stand your 



