THE CHUB. 91 



beetle, grasshopper or moth, but let a frog sink a 

 little. You will perhaps see your chub sail up 

 quietly ; do not then on any account hurry to strike 

 him, or jump up in your excitement. . When he 

 has fairly got the bait, hit hard, allow no law, and 

 stick to him at all costs. 



I would strongly advise trying alongside barges 

 when traveller-floating for chub, especially Barge- 

 when punt-fishing. An old barge, moored swims 

 for a long while in one spot, often harbours chub if 

 there be a good stream underneath to keep mud 

 away. One old barge nearly always yielded me a 

 chub on the first swim down, although she was only 

 about two feet off the bottom when the river was 

 low ; she is now quite sunk, and one of my best and 

 favourite swims is spoilt. I took care to keep the 

 punt well above the barge, and to see that she did 

 not sway about or bump the sides of the barge. 

 Pitching in a few pellets of groundbait, I ran my 

 float down, making it actually rub along the side 

 of the barge, but stopping it before it reached the 

 stern, as there was some broken ironwork pro- 

 jecting. The bait seldom got more than half way 

 down the barge's side when the float disappeared ; 

 striking sideways, I dragged the fish out from his 

 shelter, and he was generally a big one. For some 

 reason or other, macaroni proved exceptionally 

 killing in this swim : why, I cannot say ; the chub 

 there apparently liked it better -than anything 

 else. This bait is a fine showy one, three Macar- 

 dangling strips of macaroni on a triangle °"i ^^^^ 

 tickle a chub's fancy uncommonly. To make the 

 bait, put some macaroni and cheese in a pie-dish, 

 the cheese in small pieces ; pour on some boiling 



