168 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 
as represented. Having adjusted the bait neatly with the 
fingers, turn the loose skin up again, and with strong waxed 
silk or fine twine tie it ¢ig/ly round above the shot ; then 
turn it down again, and stitch the edges down witha 
needle and strong waxed silk or holland thread. The bait 
is then complete. It will be found to improve the shape 
of the head if one-fourth of an inch or so of the spine is 
cut out with a penknife at the point where the shot is to 
rest. The Eel-skin with which somewhat more than 
half the body of the bait is thus covered, is of a light 
bluish tint, which seems to be particularly attractive to 
Salmon. It is also, of course, exceedingly tough, and 
increases the durability of the bait. The Eel used for 
this bait is the better for being kept two or three weeks or 
even longer in plenty of dry coarse salt, which renders 
the skin both tougher and bluer, but it will do very well 
fresh. Ifthe Eel is salted it will be found best to soak 
it in water for some hours before baiting, to make it 
plumper and more filled out. As the process of baiting 
an Eel-tail requires some little nicety, I recommend the 
angler to bait his tackle before starting for the water-side. 
Two baits, or three at the outside, will generally be found 
more than enough for a day’s fishing, barring of course 
losses by breakages. 
The best mode of spinning for Salmon is almost iden- 
tical with that pursued in spinning for Pike, which 
latter is fully described in the chapter devoted to that 
subject. Not only in rivers but in lakes also, both Trout 
