THE BARBEL. 7 



main weir runs, however, you cannot do without 

 really heavy weight. As in chubbing, I use a 

 plaited line. In legering from the bank, or from a 

 weir head, the rod can be held very steadily ; the 

 sitting position is the best, the angler drawing a 

 little line off the reel and holding the line in the 

 fingers of the left hand, or holding the winch firmly 

 and striking from that. In the latter case, the line 

 is wound taut on the winch, and the left hand is 

 pressed on the revolving part of the winch (winding 

 with the left hand, the handles of the winch being 

 to the left), holding it tightly. (For directions as to 

 casting from the winch, see p. 230.) 



Floating for barbel is, in my opinion, far 

 better than legering, as there is so much 

 more change and variety of scene and 

 movement. . Greater care is compulsory in the 

 management of the tackle, the attention is kept up, 

 and altogether it is better sporting work. 



Of floats there is a great variety, both fixed and 



sliding, or traveller. A float for weir fishing, „, 



° Floats 



queer to look at, but excellent in use, may 



be constructed as follows : — 



Procure a large swan or pelican quill, ten inches 



in length ; in the middle of this quill fix a cone of 



cork, tapered at each end. The circumference of the 



cone on one of my favourite floats is four inches at 



its broadest part, its length nearly two inches. 



Cork-piercers of different sizes can be obtained 



from Messrs, Townson and Mercer, 89, Bishopsgate 



Street, Within : these piercers are ^-ery handy for 



float-making ; the tube cuts the hole through the 



cork very neatly, and removes the loose core at the 



same time. JPierce the hole through the cork 



before the tapering is commenced ; cut this hole of 



