258 NOTES OK FISH AND PISHING. 



is kept in its place by the lowest lead ; and that the angler 

 should not strike till he sees his float well carried off. 

 Mr. Simeon goes further, and recommends that two or 

 three feet of gut should lie on the gronnd above the bait. 

 The idea is of course that the fish will not notice the gut 

 when it lies horizontally at the bottom, as they would if 

 the bait hung perpendicularly from it. I do not question 

 the soundness of these views; but, in accordance with 

 them, why not use a simple leger line ? To show how 

 authorities differ, I may mention that Professor Owen, an 

 experienced carp-fisher, recommends fishing six inches 

 from the ground. 



As far as my own experience goes in powd-fishing for 

 large carp, I prefer the bait just touching the ground; 

 and whenever I can, I like my bait to travel a little. To 

 effect this I fix a leaf or feather to the top of the float ; 

 but then I need hardly say you want wind, and that in the 

 right direction, to suit your swim. It is certainly a good 

 plan to throw a little ground-bait for three or four days 

 in succession into the spot you have selected for your 

 operations, but not too much ; also while you are fishing 

 to throw in sparingly chopped worms, pellets of paste, or 

 small pieces of whatever bait you are using. There is no 

 bait better, in my opinion, than the tail of a well-scoured 

 lob -worm; but angling authorities generally advise a well- 

 scoured brandling. You cannot well keep too far from 

 your float. If possible, secrete yourself behind a natural 

 or artificial "blind." If possible, too, have the sun in 

 front of and not behind you; and above all be quiet, and 

 do not impart the least vibration to the water either from 

 the land or your boat. In the latter, wear list slippers, or 

 goloshes. But with the best appliances, the weather in 



