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letting it sink until you bring it close to you. Do not be in too great a hurry to withdraw it from the water altogether, as

jack will frequently follow the

bait, and only take it at the last moment, when they think it is about to escape. On perceiving a run (which you will have no difficulty in feeling, as the jack takes a good pull at your line), let him go without check until he stops, and give him ten minutes by your watch (unless he move off again before the expiration of that time), at the end of which strike smartly, and play your fish carefully and steadily.

The most fashionable and pleasant method of taking jack is by "spinning." The cut represents the best kind of spinning tackle known, and the mode of baiting it. This should be attached to a trace of gimp with several swivels and a lead, which may be procured at any tackle shop ready made up. In casting with the spinning or trolling bait, draw a sufficient quantity of your line from your reel, and, holding the line in your left hand, draw it up till the bait is within a foot or two of the top ring; then, with a good swing (and a little practice), you will find you will be able to cast the bait to any reasonable distance in the direction desired. When spinning, you must not allow your bait to sink so far as in trolling, and must keep constantly pulling it towards you, as, if not drawn forwards against the water, it will lose its chief attraction, the revolving motion. When you feel or see a bite, let the fish turn with the bait, or you may draw it from his jaws, and then strike firmly. Spinning is preferable to trolling in winter when the weeds are gone, but in waters full of weeds, stumps, &c., you will lose your tackle so often that the latter is preferable on the score of economy, not to mention the benefit of one's temper. Pike fishing with the artificial fly (a gigantic absurdity sold at most tackle shops) will pay well in some lakes and clear ponds. We next come to

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The perch, beyond every fish which the fresh waters produce, affords by far the most sport to the young angler. It is to be found in nearly every river in England, and is a bold and ravenous fish. The small ones generally take a bait directly it is offered, and we have several times known a whole shoal of these fish, varying in weight from 2 oz. or 3 oz. up to lb., taken one after

the other as fast as the bait was lowered into the water. The large ones afford excellent sport, as from their great strength they are enabled to offer much resistance, and they struggle most violently. The best way of angling for them is with the same kind of rod as that recommended for trout, runningline, cork float, and No. 7 hook, and bait with a well-scoured brandling, red or marsh-worm. The perch generally takes the bait with a sudden jerk, and the float therefore disappears at once. Let him run a yard or two, and then strike smartly, and if a heavy fish, give him line, but keep a sufficiently tight hand upon him to prevent his rushing into weeds, among roots, or round posts, &c.; and as, if you catch one perch, you may generally reckon upon several more being in the same spot, keep as far from the water as you can, and if the fish are not scared, it is more than likely that you may take the whole shoal.

Another very killing method of angling for perch in deep water is with the "paternoster," which is fitted up in the following manner: Make a line of about 9 feet long of the best twisted gut, and to the bottom of it attach a No. 6 hook; about 18 inches above this fix a good-sized shot on the line. Then procure a leaden pellet, about an inch long and inch in diameter, having a small groove all round the middle of it and a hole bored lengthwise completely through it. Pass your line through it until the pellet reaches the shot on the line, on which, of course, it will rest, and above it fix another shot, but not too close to it, or the pellet will not revolve on the line, which it ought to do. In the groove round the pellet whip a bristle about 4 or 5 inches long, having previously tied on a No. 6 hook at the other end. We prefer bristle to gut, as it retains its stiffness in the water, and keeps the bait away from the line. About 18 inches above this place another pellet and hook in exactly the same manner, and a third may be used in a precisely similar way, should the water you fish in be sufficiently deep to admit of it. A good-sized cork float should be used, and your bait should be minnows hooked by the lips. Keep as quiet and still as you can, and let your baited line sink gently into any deep water you can find, which is usually at the bends of rivers, mill-heads, locks, &c. When you perceive a bite, let your fish have the bait a minute or two before you check him, as before recommended, and then strike sharply but not violently, and if you find you have hooked a heavy fish, give him line, and tow him, if you can, out of the hole or deep water, that he may be less likely to alarm other fish; and having played him till he is quite exhausted, you may safely make use of your landing-net. It frequently happens with perch, as with other fish, that though apparently quite dead, the sight of the landingnet serves to put new life into them, and just as you think your prize perfectly safe, they will make a last desperate struggle to disengage themselves from the hook. When about to land a fish, therefore, be at all times prepared for this by never holding your rod in such a position as that the line will not run freely, for, if otherwise, a heavy fish will most assuredly break away.

When fishing with a worm, it is advisable to keep the bait occasionally in motion, by moving it to the right and left now and then, drawing it up a few inches and letting it sink, as when fish are not "strong on the feed," they may frequently be tempted to take a bait which, if perfectly still, they would probably not notice.

Perch are usually to be be met with in sluggish rivers and in the deep holes about bridges and piles; but if the river be at all rapid, choose the stillest and deepest parts: they are rarely found in shallow or "sharp" water.

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This fish, which abounds in the rivers Thames and Lea, and in most of our large tidal rivers, though but of little use for the table, affords good sport from the fact of its readily taking a bait, and, being very strong if of any size, struggling most violently when hooked. Barbel are seldom fished for from the bank, the usual mode of fishing for them being from a punt. The barbel bites very sharply and draws the float down very suddenly, and therefore, contrary to the directions given for perch fishing, you should strike the moment you perceive a bite, and if you find you have hooked your fish, raise the top of your rod, and allow him to run some yards before you attempt to check or turn him; then, by putting a gentle strain upon him, keep him away from any obstacles that may be in the way, such as roots of trees, weeds, piles, &c., and keep him in deep water. Play him till quite spent before you attempt to land him; and, if you are careful, there is little fear of your losing your fish, for the mouth of the barbel is more like leather than flesh, and if a hook is once firmly fixed in it, it will never draw.

Having chosen the spot you mean to fish in overnight, your sport will be much increased by using a liberal supply of ground-bait, for which there is none better than a mixture of boiled greaves, bran, and clay; and the same bait may be thrown into the water very frequently whilst fishing with much advantage. Barbel fishing now-a-days is for the most part practised with the aid of a boatman, and he, if a respectable man, as most of the Thames fishermen are, will relieve you of much trouble by taking all that is necessary in this respect. The best baits for barbel are red worms, gentles, and greaves.

There is a mode of angling for these fish almost peculiar to them, which we ought not to omit to describe. It is termed "ledger fishing," and is done as follows: The hook is baited with a well-scoured lob-worm, a large marshworm, or with greaves. You should place your ledger-lead (which can be had at any of the tackle shops) on the line about to inches above the hook, with a large shot under it to keep it in its place; the bait is then cast into the water, and the lead, of course, sinks to the bottom. The top of the rod should be

held over the side of the boat, nearly touching the water, till a bite is felt (for no float is used), when a rather hard and sudden strike should be given. Having hooked vour fish, proceed as before directed.

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This fish is found in most sluggish rivers, and although, like the barbel, but of little use for the table, he affords most excellent sport, as he feeds both at the top and bottom of the water. He will take gudgeons, minnows, worms, and paste, and in summer-particularly in the months of July and Augusthe will take both the natural and artificial fly most greedily. The chub, however, is a shy fish, and great caution, therefore, is necessary in approaching the water; for if he see you he will generally leave that part of the water so long as you remain. The chub is not so game a fish as the barbel, and although when first hooked he generally makes some desperate plunges in his endeavours to escape, yet they soon subside, and he generally allows himself to be landed without further trouble.

Chub are generally found in deep, still holes, and in the height of summer may be met with by the sides of rivers, under overhanging branches of alders, willows, &c., feeding on moths, bees, flies, &c., and afford excellent sport with the natural or artificial fly in such places during the summer months.

In bottom fishing for chub, the best baits are greaves, gentles, paste, and red worms. The paste should be made in the following manner. Take a piece of the crust of a new loaf, about the size of a cricket ball, and soak it for a few minutes in water; then take it out of the water, squeeze out all the moisture, and knead it in the hands until it becomes a stiff paste or dough: then take a piece of the oldest cheese you can get (the more decayed it is the better), and having rubbed it with the hands till it is quite smooth and free from lumps, mix it with the bread paste. Put a piece of this paste about the size of a small nut on a No. 6 hook, and use a large quill or small cork float.

The chub appears to alter his tastes according to the season of the year. Early in the year lob-worms and minnows will tempt him; in the summer he

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