THE BREAM. 41 



resistance to the water ; a stout, or even a tapered, 

 cork float will travel about sideways, backwards and 

 forwards, in tight corking, or semi-tight corking, 

 and the line will, in consequence, not rest so 

 steadily ; besides, a heavy float tends to alarm a 

 feeding fish, its weight being more easily felt. 



A very favourite float is a thin, five-inch porcupine 

 quill, with white or yellow top, ringed at the lower 

 end, and used without any cap in slow eddies or 

 nearly still waters. This float is one of the best 



-^^^« 



-^^^ 



Bream Floats in Use. 



for pond-fishing. A six-inch porcupine, goose, or 

 small swan quill for straight runs, ringed and 

 capped, is better than the smaller one ; but use the 

 thinnest quills possible. Any feathers I find when 

 sculling or punting I cheerfully annex ; and I get 

 plenty of swan quills at times from the Thames, 

 painting these quills dark green to within about an 

 inch of the top, when they make excellent floats for 

 many styles of fishing, rough but useful. White- 

 topped floats can be seen best in the dusk or 

 early morning. 



Soaked bread, kneaded up with plenty of bran, 

 makes a very good groundbait, perhaps the best. 



