268 NOTES ON PISH AND PISHING. 



in a diver's dress, and lain in barbel swim, or observed 

 this phenomenon through a glass window on a river's bank, 

 as I have suggested at page 123 ? 



My young friend and angler, who may perchance have 

 these Notes in your hand, let me ask you whether you 

 have even hooked a three or four pound barbel when 

 fishing for roach on light roach tackle ? If you have, you 

 probably have lost him very soon through want of pre- 

 sence of mind. But if you were self-possessed and played 

 him artistically, you know what a job you had, what 

 patience and lightness of hand you exercised, and that it 

 took you a good quarter of an hour or more before you 

 could get on intimate terms with him. I have noticed for 

 years that there is no fish which seems to have a more 

 instinctive dread of the landing-net; for when, after a 

 long and desperate tussle, he appears about to " throw up 

 the sponge," and allow himself to be brought towards the 

 punt's side, no sooner does he catch a sight of the 

 " Gangam of Fate " than a new lease of life seems to be 

 given him, which he frequently takes advantage of, much 

 to his own satisfaction and the angler's dismay, by 

 snapping the tackle and getting clear off. When foul- 

 hooked in the ordinary course of fishing with the leger 

 or Nottingham tackle, or by a trout-spinner in one of 

 the Thames weirs, the resistance he can offer is something 

 wonderful ; and many a trout-fisherman has felt his heart 

 in his mouth, when, after days' or perhaps weeks' patient 

 spinning, a sudden strike and strong rush lead him to be- 

 lieve he has hooked a veritable " spotted monster " — he 

 finds, after all, to his intense disappointment, he has only got 

 hold of a lank barbel, vigorous enough, but out of season. 

 Such being the strength and pluck of barbatus, I have 



