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Experiments on the Production of Artificial Baits. 



By 

 Frank Hughes. 



It may be well to preface the paper on the Production of Artificial 

 Baits by a short statement as to the way in which the experiments 

 were taken up by Mr. Hughes. 



Members of the Association are of course aware that, through the 

 kindness of Mr. Bayly, of Torr Grove, Plymouth, a special fund 

 was instituted for the purpose of finding out, first of all, what it was 

 in the bait that attracted fish, and, secondly, how the attracting 

 matter could artificially be extracted, and applied to easily procured 

 substances ; or manufactured altogether afresh. 



The papers of Mr, Bateson, published in the Journal, vol. i. No. 3, 

 discussed, at considerable length, the manner in which fish sought 

 their food by the action of their various senses. This work formed 

 a logical basis for the whole inquiry of artificial bait, besides 

 proving of great scientific value. 



The question has now been taken up from a chemical point of view, 

 and practical results sought after. This preliminary paper by 

 Mr. Hughes — a chemist from Prof. Meldola's Laboratory — shows 

 generally the methods he has employed in trying to produce an 

 artificial bait from natural sources. 



When several preparations had been made, a long line was set 

 somewhere in the neighbourhood of Plymouth, the hooks being 

 baited, not only with the newly prepared substances, but with natural 

 baits as well, so that a proper estimate might be formed by 

 comparison. 



Briefly, it may be said, that no bait has yet been discovered which 

 appears to act as an irrestible lure to the fishes, but at the same time 

 a considerable amount of success has been met with, and if the 



