292 Wild Life in a Southern County 



there when an ordinary roach may be displayed before him 

 without the slightest effect. 



A flood which brings down a large quantity of sus- 

 pended mud and sand discolouring the water attracts the 

 fish : they are looking for food. But too much mud com- 

 pels them to shift their quarters. This is well known to 

 those who net the stream. They stretch the net across 

 the brook a few yards below a bridge or short culvert — 

 places much haunted by fish. Then the bottom of the 

 stream above the culvert is thoroughly stirred up with a 

 pole till the water is thick with mud, and this, passing 

 through the culvert (where the pole cannot be used and 

 the fish would otherwise be safe), forces them to descend 

 the stream and enter the net. Probably they attempt to 

 swim up stream first, but are deterred by the pole thrust 

 under the water, and then go down. It is said that even 

 eels, who like mud, will move if the volume of mud sent 

 through is thick enough and continued sufficiently long. 



The fact that a little stirring of the bottom attracts 

 fish is made use of along the Thames to attract bait for 

 those night-lines which are the detestation of the true 

 angler. The bait catcher has a long pole, at the end of 

 which are iron teeth like a rake. With this he rakes up 

 the mud, waits a few seconds, and then casts a net, which 

 generally brings some minnows or other small fish to shore. 

 These fish are then placed in a bucket, and finally go on 

 the night-lines. 



The ditches as they open on the brook are the favourite 

 resorts of all aquatic life, and there most of the insects, 

 beetles, &c, that live in the water may be discovered. 

 They form, too, one of the last resorts of the reeds ; these 

 beautiful plants have been much diminished in quantity 

 by the progress of agriculture. One or two great mounds 



