292 NOTES ON FISH AND FISHTNG. 



at a proper distance from the boughs, and the chub rise 

 fairly, the sport is by no means to be despised. 



During July and August, too, "daping," or "dapping" 

 (connected, I suppose, with the verb to " dab "), is in 

 vogue for chub ; but it Wants a master of the art to prac- 

 tise it successfully. Consummate observation, caution, 

 care, and patience are part of the stock-in-trade needed. 

 Old Walton was evidently a " dapper." To secrete oneself 

 and get one's bait into the water, clear of boughs and 

 bushes, without scaring the most shy, perhaps, of all fish, 

 and then work it properly, will tax the powers of the best 

 of anglers. For "daping" all sorts of creatures are 

 used, such as cockchafers, grasshoppers, beetles, large 

 flies of all kinds, humble bees, et id genus omne, not 

 forgetting the lively frog. I have the highest regard 

 for a good " daper," partly, perhaps, because I have not 

 the patience and perseverance to be one myself. 



Chub are often caught in considerable quantities when 

 roach-fishing, and on the leger when barbel-fishing 

 with lobworms. But float-fishing for chub according 

 to the Nottingham method with the "traveller" is, 

 after fly-fishing, the most artistic and often the most 

 successful method of capturing our Gyprinus cephalus. 

 For this you want a moderately swift swim, about three 

 to five feet deep and with a level bottom, and it should 

 run along a line of boughs or bushes. When chub are 

 fairly on, for this style of fishing almost any baits will 

 answer, but greaves, cheese, and " pith " are the best. 

 The latter has shown itself a very killing bait of late 

 years, being the spinal marrow of a bullock, and with this 

 bullock's brains should be used as ground-bait. They 

 require, however, some preparation before use, and this is 



