A second method is by lapping a fine Bittern's feather round the hook like a hackle, near the top of the shank, and putting a palmer worm (of the sort which the Angler deems preferable,) or a cadis on the bend of the hook; this bait is to be used with a short line over banks, bushes, &c. other large fish as well as Trouts are caught in this manner, which in many countries is termed bobbing. Somewhat similar to this is the dibbing, with the natural brown beetle or cockchafer, which in rivers whose banks are crowded with alders and willows, takes many of the largest fish; the rod must be stiff, and a stronger line is required; (skill and management being here of little use, the dependance must be entirely on the goodness of the tackle, and the line is never in the water, except when a fish is hooked; for the Beetle or natural flies in this kind of angling, are to be waved over the water, and then let fall gently on the surface, under bushes, &c.) the lower part ought to be the stoutest silk-worm gut, the hook proportioned to the size of the bait, about No. 3. for the cockchafer, and No. 7. for other flies; of which it will be right to put two upon the hook when they are small, as in this state they frequently drop upon the stream, and the deception may be better concealed by this natural appearance. MINNOW FISHING. The tackle for Minnow fishing for Trouts, should be of the same sort as that mentioned for the Salmon, with this difference, that it must be finer, with a stout single silk-worm gut at bottom, and the hook No. 2, 3, or 4, according to the bigness of the Trout in the water where angled for; the middle sized and whitest minnows are the best, (of which those caught in streams are far brighter than those procured from ditches or stagnated waters,) and the way of baiting recommended by WALTON, is, To put the hook in at the mouth, and draw it out through the gill about three inches, then again put the hook in at the mouth, and let the point and beard come out at the tail, then tie the hook and the tail about with a fine white thread, which will make it spin quicker; pull back that part of the line which was slack when the hook was thrust in the second time, which will fasten the head of the minnow, so as to make it be almost straight on the hook, try if it turns well, which it cannot do too fast. Angle with the point of the rod down the stream, drawing the minnow against the current, gradually, and near the surface; when descried, the Trout will freely come at it, be careful not to snatch it away, nor strike until he has turned with the bait; for this angling, the winch and ringed rod is to be always used, and there should be two or three swivels on the line, which will assist the spinning of the Minnow. WALTON's method may be altered and improved, by first thrusting the hook in at the lower side of the minnow's under, and also quite through the upper chap, drawing it two or three inches on the line, and put the hook in at the mouth as before directed, this will keep the minnow's mouth closed, which otherwise should be stitched up. Various hooks are recommended in Minnow fishing, one much used, consists of a large hook with two very small ones fastened back to back, to a piece of gut about two inches long, with a small hook to another gut something shorter, to fasten the head of the Minnow; these pieces of gut are so attached to the link, that the two small hooks may be about the middle of the Minnow when baited, and the other reach the head; a small lead cap (which readers other weight unnecessary,) slides upon the link, keeps the short pieces of gut close, and falls upon the head of the Minnow; the advocates for this plan boast of the certainty of booking the Trout with the two small hooks; this may be true, says an Angler of no inconsiderable skill, but he asks if these small hooks, (which seldom exceed No. 12.) are sufficient to kill a Trout of any bigness, and when a fish is hooked by these, the other hooks are entirely useless, from the situation in which they are placed; another objection started by the same Gentleman, is, that when the gut to which they are tied has been a short time in the water, it will not sustain the weight of the hooks, but they will sink below the Minnow, and are continually foul of weeds and rubbish at the bottom; besides the lead cap falling upon the Minnow's head, totally conceals the eyes, parts which add life and attraction to the bait, and are on that account so essential to be seen. Some use about three feet of stout silk-worm gut for the bottom links, with two or three small swivels, which prevents the line from being entangled, and assists the twirling of the Minnow; if these hooks are used as directed for Pike, it will be successful, the bottom swivel must be open at one end, that the link on which the hooks are laid, may be taken off occasionally to be baited, the proper size of these hooks is No. 7; if the old method of a large hook and a smaller above it, be preferred, the proper sizes are No. 2, and 6, with a running line, the Angler can permit the Minnow to be carried by the current under bushes, banks, &c. this will be effected by his suffering the stream to gain upon it when he pulls it back, which also prevents its sinking to the bottom, and entangling the hooks; as he draws it gently against the stream, favouring the direction to which he would have the bait driven, it will of course spin round very quick, and this is the moment the Trout usually takes it, by holding the rod firm, he will infallibly hook himself, will then spring out of the water several times, and by an astonishing strength and agility, endeavour to get quit of the hook; the Angler must not be too hasty, but lower his right band, which will raise the top of his rod, and keep it bent, by this means the Trout may be tired, but he will not readily suffer himself to be got into the landing-net, the best way therefore, instead of bringing the fish to the surface (where he will so violently plunge, as to endanger breaking the rod, line, or book,) is to keep him as deep in the water as possible. Artificial Minnows made of mother of pearl, &c. fitted to single, two, or more hooks, and bent in various attitudes, are to be purchased at all the Tackle makers. The biggest Trout known to have been caught in the South with a Minnow, was by Mr. Howell, of Cateaton Street, at Hambleton Lock (between Maidenhead and Henley,) in 17550 which weighed sixteen pounds. In 1794, the Compiler caught one near Richmond Bridge, that weighed ten pounds and a half; and in 1795, Mr. Jons speared a Trout near Cooke's Ferry in the river Lea, which weighed fifteen pounds, and was the largest ever remembered to have been taken from that river. Trout fishing with a worm is practised with the greatest success at the commencement of a flood, but the small lob, red, marsh worms, and brandlings, well scoured, are good baits all the year, used without a float, with a running line, and the bait carried down by the stream, for which reason, the worm should be thrown by the Angler towards the head of the current, and be suffered to swim down with it; the shot should be at least a foot from the hook, which must be No. 4, or 5, one lob-worm is sufficient; of brandlings and red-worms, two upon the hook are held preferable. Recollect in angling for Trout with a worm, not to strike until the second motion of the fish is felt. The neat Angler will have his pannier or basket for carrying the fish, large enough to admit their laying at full length, where by strewing a little hay or grass between them, they may be preserved in much of their beauty, and he may exhibit his spoils, not only more favourably to the eye, but also to the palate, for the fish being pressed, bent, and jumbled together, until perhaps burst, is not likely to add much to their flavour; and those who carry their fish in their pockets, must surely after a sultry day and long walk, be sometimes puzzled to class their captures with precision. Having already touched upon those fish, that do not visit the salt water, the second class, the FISH OF PASSAGE, remain to be mentioned. The Salmon was known to the Romans, but not to the Greeks; PLINY speaks. of it as being in the Rivers of Aquitaine; AUSONIUS enumerates it among those of the Mosel. The Salmon is a northern fish, being unknown in the Mediterranean sea, and other warm climates; it is found in some of the rivers of France, which empty themselves into the ocean as far north as Greenland, and is also very common in |