234 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 
and broken worms where only a few hours intervene, or 
where the two processes of ground baiting and fishing 
commence simultaneously. 
For the latter purpose it is not necessary that the 
ground bait should retain its vitality for any length of 
time, and an ordinary lob-worm may in this case be 
broken certainly into two pieces, with advantage. 
d 
“Chopping” on the other hand, or breaking the worm 
into a number of small pieces, is certainly bad, as 
thereby one chief element of attractiveness, life, is taken 
away. A divided worm is for some time more lively 
than a whole one. 
Asa rule, worms, when employed as ground bait in 
gentle currents, or in ponds and still water, are best 
used by themselves simply, but in deep or strong water 
it is necessary to enclose them in hollow clay balls, so 
that the balls may carry the worms to the bottom before 
bursting, or being washed open by the action of the 
stream. The application of these rules will be ex- 
plained more in detail in the chapter on Barbel 
fishing, 
I cannot do better than conclude these observations 
on ground bait with a rule which should never be for- 
gotten: after ground baiting, plumb the exact depth, 
and arrange the tackle so that it may not be necessary 
to make a disturbance when fishing commences, 
