COARSE FISH. 



THE BARBEL. 



The barbel is one of the strongest coarse fish 

 that the angler has to cope with. Gregarious like 

 bream and roach, if they can only be induced to 

 feed, and due care is exercised, these fish may be 

 caught by the hundredweight : it is not an un- 

 common occurrence to fill a punt-well when barbel 

 really feed in earnest. They seem built for heavy, 

 sullen fighting ; their great length, broad fins, and 

 habit of feeding on the bottom all indicate their 

 character. They are boring, deep-plunging fish, 

 making for the bed of the river with extreme 

 doggedness when hooked, and, as a rule, are not 

 then addicted to gymnastics on the surface. The 

 angler will find his hands full with a big barbel on 

 fine tackle. 



Barbel are queer-looking fish ; their small eyes 

 are knowing and crafty ; the wattles and sucker-like 

 mouth increase the peculiarity of their appearance, 

 and the angler's first barbel is usually examined 

 with considerable interest. 



Thames and Trent anglers seem to be much at 

 variance as to barbel-swims, to judge at least 



