BARBEL, ANGLING Fon. The B. is a ground-feeding fish, grubbing on the bottom for his sustenance. The baits principally used to capture hint are worms and maggots, greases. and cheese; and the means of angling for him are chiefly with a dead-line. called a ledger. or with float-tackle. The ledger is a perforated leaden bullet; throug,h this the line runs freely. To prevent its slipping down on the hook, a large shot or other sub4anee is fastened on the line, about a yard above the hook. The hook (about No. 5 or 6 in size) is with n lob-worm or greavea, and the lead Is cast into the water, and remains motionless on the bottom. When a fish bites, the- angler feels the tug, and strikes smartly; as the fins of the B. are large, and -his muscles powerful. he frequent11- offers considerable resistance. The rod used for ledger-fishing is short and stiff. In toot-fishing for 13., the tact:leis finer, and the hook smaller. A cork-float suited to the depth and rapidity of the river is used, and it is fixed at such a height upon the line that the bait just touches the• bottom. The instant the float disappears. thin angler strikes, but not so forctibly so ib 10g,er4ishittg. krevious to angling for B., it is desirable to bait the place to be fished, for the purpose of drawing the fish together. This is accomplished by chopping up and casting into the water from 500 to 1000 lob worms, and it 5110111(1 be done 18 or 20 hours before fishing. Ju float-fishing for B.. the
float should lie allowed to travel down a considerable distance of water, at least 30 or 40 yards, in order that no spot where a portion of the worms may have lodged should be missed; This is sometimes done by the use of a float called a slider, which is not fixed on the line, but. by the management of the angler, accommodates itself to the depth of the water. In this fishing, the bait trails along the ground, and the rod should be at least 14 or 15 ft. in length, and the line very light and fine. B. will sometimes take a spinning bait, and are often caught by the angler while trout-fishing; but this is by no means a certain method of angling for them. The B. may be said to he gregarious; it spawns in May or June, choosing sonic gentle shallow for that purpose, but soon recovers its strength again. About the end of July, the B. seeks the deep rapid streams, and may be seen vigorously springing from the water in his endeavors to rid himself of the parasitical insects which attach themselves to him durinp. his quiescence. Here he remains the greater part of the summer and autumn. Frosty weather renders the B. tor pid, and he takes shelter under some large stone or weed, where he can lie up during tha winter. Although the B. is by no means an estimable fish for the table, it is much used by the Jews in their fasts and festivals.