THE BARBEL. 23 



that cross-baiting cannot happen. Try also fine 

 tackle and a small hook baited with a red worm. 

 I have done well with cheese-paste, fishing long 

 swims with float-tackle, and baiting very sparingly. 

 Perhaps, after much patience and care, you will 

 get the fish thoroughly " on," when the sport will 

 not quickly be forgotten. A punt- well is soon 

 filled when barbel mean business, six-pound fish 

 take up a lot of room. Not the least exciting part 

 of the sport is getting the fish out of the well 

 again, the mighty hangings 'of tails when they are 

 freshly alarmed by the endeavour to lift one out 

 will fill you with delight, and, very likely, your 

 sleeves with water. 



I caught my first barbel in the river Wey, in a 

 spot where they have free access to the Thames : I 

 was roach-fishing at the time with gentles. The 

 place is now almost unrecognisable, the lower Wey 

 being so encroached upon by building. A 

 summer-house now stands on the spot I fished 

 from. Halliday's Hole, and Ham Haw, or Hard, 

 Deeps and the Chalk Hole, at Shepperton, were 

 once famous places for barbel ; they are now silting 

 up somewhat, the new weirs having altered the 

 character of the river. 



Tight corking, i.e., fishing with a fixed float, is 

 sometimes practised with success in barbel- Tight 

 fishing, especially in bank-swims. A long corking 

 rod is best, as it is advisable to strike as directly as 

 possible in a line with the float. Let the shot be 

 well apart on the tackle, and the last two or three 

 rest on the ground, the bait being thus held 

 steadily in one place, and strike sharply on seeing 

 a bite. Deep swims are not suitable for tight 

 corking ; the float, being fixed on the line, draws up 



