TO TIE ON THE NEEDLE, &C. 131 



How to tie on the Needle, and halt it. 



To whip or tie the needle to the line is clone with 

 some silk, waxed with shoe-maker's wax, first laying 

 the end of the line nearly half-way down the needle, 

 within a quarter of an inch of the eye or thick end, 

 and tying it strongly on ; the line will then hang from 

 about the middle of the needle, leaving the smaller 

 end quite bare, and also a quarter of an inch of the 

 larger. In baiting the needle, enter the thick end 

 thereof into the worm, near the tail, and carry it down 

 near to the head ; then draw the worm as much back 

 as will completely cover the needle ; the line will 

 then hang from the tail, and the head will be present- 

 ed to the Eel. The best rod for sniggling is about 

 two yards of light stiff bamboo 3 to the top of which 

 tie about half a yard of wire, as before described, 

 which you can readily bend to the shape most conve- 

 nient for carrying the bait to any place you wish. 

 Some Snigglers put the needle into the worm near 

 the head, so that the tail is presented to the Eel, 

 which, from its moving or twisting about, they think 

 is more likely to entice the Eel to bite. The worms 

 proper for sniggling are tough and well-scowered lob 

 worms, marl worms, or very large marsh worms, 

 equally tough and well scowered, for those large Eels 

 will seldom take a worm that is just dug from the 

 earth j and besides, if not well scowered, the worm is 

 apt to break while you are preparing it with the 

 needle. 



