SEA ANGLING 43 



adductor muscle previously described. If this is carefully done, 

 there will be little fear of the bait becoming detached unless it 

 is subjected to rough usage, and still less if it is tied round the 

 shank of the hook by means of a short piece of cotton thread. 



It is probably superfluous to mention to the reader the fact that 

 mussels are to be found on almost every rocky coast, where they 

 may be seen attached to the rocks by means of a bunch of silky 

 fibres called the byssus ; and that, failing this, they are to be 

 obtained from almost every fisherman and fish-dealer ; if, however, 

 these molluscs are not to be obtained, cockles may be used as 

 a substitute, though it will probably be found that they are 

 appreciably inferior, except when fishing for dabs and plaice on 

 sandy shores, in which case they are highly satisfactory. Cockles 

 abound on most sandy coasts, where they live a little below the 

 surface ; and are usually obtained by means of an ordinary garden 

 rake. Sometimes we meet with them in large numbers in the 

 estuaries of rivers, where they He buried in the banks of mixed 

 sand and mud that are left exposed at low tide. 



Limpets are extensively used for bait in some places, especially 

 by amateur anglers ; and often with good results. They should 

 always be removed from the rocks without injury, and this is no 

 easy matter to those who do not know how to deal with them. If 

 taken completely by surprise, one sharp, but light tap on the side 

 of the conical shell will successfully detach them from their hold ; 

 or they may be raised by means of the blade of a strong pocket- 

 knife that has been thrust beneath the cone. 



For our work small limpets will prove far more satisfactory than 

 large ones, and these may be used whole ; but if the limpets are too 

 large for the hooks employed, the soft, upper part of the body only 

 need be used. 



It is not an easy matter to remove fresh limpets from their 

 shells without destroying this soft portion of the animal, but if 

 placed for a minute or so in hot water they come out quite easily, 

 and are apparently none the less attractive as bait. Some fishermen 

 on the Cornish coast always collect the largest limpets for bait, 

 remove them from their shells by means of hot water, and arrange 

 them on the rocks to become partly dry. When required for bait, 

 the soft parts only are used, but these, having been more or less 

 hardened by the drying process, hold much better on the hook than 

 when fresh. 



And now, after mentioning the fact that land snails are 



