62 



on Angling recommend the ledger as the best mode of Barbel 

 fishing, but in my opinion it is the very worst, there is nothing 

 in it. As I said before, it is too "slow," and wiU not do for 

 the Barbel fishers of the present day. In fact, if you see a 

 man plumbing, ledger fishing, or whatever else you call it, when 

 there is a chance to fish with the float, I set him down as a 

 " duffer," and a lazy fisherman. For my own part I would pre- 

 fer a quiet day at home, and a tune on the " old banjo," to fishing 

 for Barbel with the plumb. When the water is high and thick 

 you must not fish for him in the deeps. Tou will find him in 

 the shallows, of about four or five feet of Water, with a gravelly 

 bottom, just above a deep water and a brisk stream. These are 

 the likeliest places to find Barbel when the water has risen. 

 Suppose you have not fished the place before, and do not know 

 the exact depth, but think it a likely place, the first thing you 

 must do is to ascertain the proper depth either with the plum- 

 met, or by putting on your Barbel float and tackle, which I thiiik 

 the better plan, because you will be able to know what sort of 

 a bottom you are going to fish on, whether it be level or whether 

 there be an j thing foul about it. The water being thick, it might 

 be full of weeds without your being able to see them, so by 

 putting your float and tackle on jtiii will soon discover if the 

 bottom is all right. The reason I recommend you to get the 

 depth first is, because I suppose you intend to throw in some 

 sort of ground bait to entice the fish to take your bait on the hook. 

 WeU, if you do not know how deep the water is, where is jonr 

 calculation ? How'shall you ascertain one of the greatest points 

 in angling, that is, to know to a nicety where your ground bait 

 has gone to ? It is impossible for any one to catch fish well 

 unless he has some idea where his ground bait will rest. If 

 he has not, it will be great good luck if he kills a fish. You might 

 as well strew your ground bait on the bank as in the water if 

 you have no idea where it has gone to. Well, after you have got 

 the depth of the water, take' fifty dew worms and cut them up, 

 (you need not be particular about a few worms when the water 

 is thick, as they won't be so easily found), and throw themia 



