220 



Further Experiments on the Production of Artificial 



Baits. 



By 



Frauk IIu&;hcs. 



Since the publication of tlie last paper a number of experiments 

 have been made in conuection with the Bait questiou. The object 

 aimed at was to obtain some material which would serve as a medium 

 for the application of some or other of the extracts prepared by tlie 

 methods given in the previous report. A number of common sub- 

 stances were tried without success. The majority were either uot 

 sufficiently porous^ or, if possessing that qualiiication^they lacked that 

 strength and toughness which is absolutely necessary in a bait which 

 must lie iu the water for some hours. 



It is this length of time which renders such materials as sponge, 

 however fine, quite useless, since no extract, even if very much 

 thickened, will remain in a piece of sponge more than a few minutes. 

 Mr. Bateson in his report on this subject suggested the use of China 

 clay ; I tried a number of experiments with this, both dried and soft. 

 In the latter case disintegration occurred at once, and the dried clay 

 did not absorb sufficient extract to render it attractive ; besides this, 

 fish always reject any hard substance, even if it be made attractive 

 with the smell of a favourite food. A somewhat promising material 

 was obtained by boiling down skate skins until they were quite soft, 

 and pressing them into blocks. The large amount of gelatine iu these 

 skins caused the fibres to adhere, forming a compact mass. This was 

 somewhat porous and elastic, and took up a considerable amount of 

 extract, but, like a number of other gelatine preparations, would not 

 withstand the prolonged action of the water. A number of experi- 

 ments were tried with this material, but no mixture could be obtained 

 w^hich would remain unacted on by water for a sufficient time. Other 

 substances, such as gums, were tried, but without success. 



Throughout my experiments I have never found any substance 

 at all attractive to the conger other than the extracts, &c., prepared 

 from pilchard, squid, or whelks; these wei'e always attractive, particu- 



