222 THE TROLLER S GUIDE. 



cause it is essential to offer the Jack or Pike a bait 

 exceedingly fresh and sweet ; also, make it a rule to put 

 a fresh bait on when you find the present one is torn, 

 or becomes water-sopped ; and be careful to remove 

 any piece of weed, &c. that may have hung to a bait 

 before you cast in again, for Jack or Pike will seldom 

 take a stale or sopped bait, nor one on which hang 

 weeds, grass, or any thing else. When you go for a 

 day's trolling with the gorge, provide a tin box, suffi- 

 ciently large to hold six Fish-baits laying at their full 

 length, and put under, between, and over them some 

 clean bran, which will absorb the moisture from their 

 bodies, and keep them sweet for a long time ; and 

 they will also remain longer firm and stiff. I gene- 

 rally use a square tin box, with hinges and a slip clasp, 

 of the following dimensions, viz. from seven to eight 

 inches long, about five inches broad, and two deep j 

 the inside of the box should be divided into three or 

 four parts by slips of tin that fall into grooves, (see the 

 Cut.) By placing the baits in those divisions, it keeps 

 them straight ; and by sprinkling them well with bran 

 (which absorbs the moisture of their bodies,) the 

 baits will keep of their natural shape, and remain 

 sweet. The TroUer, who takes the trouble so to pre- 

 serve his baits, will find his success greatly exceed 

 those who carelessly wrap their bait-fish up in paper , 

 the box for baits should be japanned, otherwise it soon 

 becomes rusty, and then requires much trouble to 

 keep it in a clean state fit to receive bait-fish. — Note. 

 A large-sized Sandwich box, (sold at all the principal 



