22 COARSE FISH. 



seeing the direction of the wind, we noticed it had 

 changed to the east, and I have not the shghtest 

 doubt that is what spoiled our sport How 

 anxiously we anglers watch the direction of the 

 wind, and how seldom we experience much sport 

 when it is easterly ! I say seldom, for I have caught 

 fish when the wind was in that quarter, particularly 

 Thames trout ; but my recollections of sport in an 

 easterly wind are nearly all depressing. I have 

 lately read that, in New Zealand, an easterly wmd 

 is the most favourable for sport ; the southerly wind 

 there is cold, coming from the Pole. 



In playing barbel, the fish's tail can frequently 

 „ g _ plainly be felt to hit the line ; I do not for 

 ing"of one moment consider this intentional. As 

 barbe ^-^^ barbel "bores" so much in play, 

 ramming his head down and fighting towards the 

 bottom, the tail strikes the line in his struggles, 

 and the idea is perhaps entertained that it is 

 purposely done, but it is only owing to the peculiar 

 position of the fish. A large diseased barbel in 

 the Colne once attracted my attention, and though 

 the position may seem impossible, the fish was 

 almost upright, as if he were trying to stand on his 

 head. He was in a very bad way, a great patch of 

 " fur " extending down his side towards the tail ; 

 and had I been able to reach the fish I would have 

 tried to get him out and killed him, as it is no 

 good letting these diseased fish remain in the 

 water. 



The angler should remember to try changes of 

 Change baits when barbel-fishing, not in the same 

 of baits pitches, but if he cannot get fish with lobs, 

 let him bait another swim with gentles or greaves, 

 and let the second swim be far from the first, so 



