NIGHT LINES, &C., FOR EELS. 13/ 



the tail with some strong thread, to keep the gimp* 

 or whatever the hooks are fastened to, from drawing 

 the hooks out of their proper place, or position, and 

 aU will be right. If you bait with Lamprey, they 

 should be pieces about one or two inches long. 



Note. — That part which contains the roe are the most 

 enticing pieces. I have not found Lamprey a good 

 bait for Eels in any other rivers but those into which 

 the tide flows, yet, in them, it is a very killing bait j 

 neither do they answer in any ponds where I have tried 

 them. If you use worms for baits, they should be 

 well scowered ; large lob worms, put on a single hook, 

 in the following manner j but observe, that a short 

 shanked hook is to be preferred : 

 ! Take a long minnow baiting-needle, and fix it to 

 the gimp, or what the hook is tied to j enter the point 

 of the needle close to the tail of the worm, and bring 

 it out at its head j draw till the shank of the hook is 

 completely covered, taking care also that the point 

 and barb of the hook are hid or covered in the worm 5 

 but let no more than a quarter of an inch of the worm 

 hang loose from the point of the hook j for, when much 

 is left loose. Eels are apt to nibble it off, and avoid 

 taking the part which contains the hook. Some An- 

 glers bait their hook by entering the point of the needle 

 at the head of the worm, instead of the tail, which I 

 prefer, because the hook then lays in the thickest part 

 of the worm, and, therefore, the point and barb are less 

 likely to show or be felt, while the Eel is sucking in 

 the bait. — Note, hooks baited with worms are very 

 n2 



