instance known to the writer, of lugworms being imported 
and sold in quantities in the market. 
Although lugworms are fairly abundant they are 
apparently not as extensively used for bait as formerly. 
This is probably because they are troublesome to obtain, 
and may be kept only for a short time. These dis- 
advantages account for the fact that in some cases 
mussels are used in preference to Arenicola, which was 
formerly employed, as these molluscs are readily obtain- 
able in quantity, and may be kept for a reasonable period 
with very little trouble. In other cases Nereids are used, 
as these are also more hardy than Arenicola. 
On the coast of Durham and Northumberland, for 
example, Arenicola is not nearly so extensively used as 
formerly. Nereids are, when procurable, used in pre- 
ference to Arenicola, the order of preference being, for 
“hard bottom ”—mussel, Nereis, Arenicola; for ‘“‘ soft 
bottom ”——Nereis, Arenicola, mussel. The special fishing 
for soles is not a feature of the present-day fishing in this 
district as it was in the past. Possibly this accounts for 
the fact that worms are, on the whole, less used, and that 
the principal baits at present employed here are mussels 
and limpets.” 
Fullartont has made experiments which give inter- 
esting information regarding the preference of fishes for 
the four baits most commonly used on the Scottish coast. 
The experiments were carried out in various parts of the 
Firth of Forth, and in various depths of water. The line 
used had 1,200 hooks, provided with different baits in 
batches of forty hooks, so that a large variety of baits 
could be used under identical conditions. The fish 
** My thanks are due to Mr. Alexander Meek, B.Sc., of the 
Durham College of Science, Newcastle-on-Tyne, for this information. 
+ Seventh Annual Report of the Fishery Board for Scotland, 
. 852, 
p. 85 - 
