WORM-FISHING. 35 



of them to any part of the country that has communi- 

 cation with the Scottish metropolis by railway, coach, 

 or carrier. If the angler happens not to have access 

 to Edinburgh, he has only to dig them from the earth 

 choosing such as are rather under than over two 

 inches in length and to keep them for a week or 

 ten days amongst dry moss, until they slough off their 

 pollutions, and become clear and tough. The worm- 

 fisher must pass over much water in most rivers. 

 Pools and deep gushing streams it is unprofitable to fish 

 in although occasionally, when there is wind, trout 

 are to be taken thus in the thin running water at the 

 foot of a pool, and in a gale, worm may be angled 

 with almost like fly. The hook ought to vary in size 

 according to the general size of the worms, but per- 

 haps it is undesirable to use it larger than No. 1 1 or 

 smaller than No. 8 of Addlington's. The point of the 

 hook should be inserted a little below the head, and 

 the body of the worm drawn along the shank until it 

 completely covers the hook, leaving about one-third of 

 it to play beyond the point. Mr. Stewart recommends 

 a worm tackle made up of three or four small hooks, 

 No. 8 or 9, Bartlett's (5 or 4, Addlington's), tied to 

 the end of the thread of gut the bend of the one 

 hook nearly touching the top of the one below it 

 and the points of the hooks merely passed through 

 different parts of the body of the worm. This gives 

 the worm a more natural appearance, and makes the 

 angler sure that when the trout seizes it there will 

 be the point of a hook in its mouth; but, of course, 

 on a narrow inspection, the trout will observe the 

 hooks or gut. We have had little experience of it, but 



