42 FOOD OF FISHES. 



sprung upon while they are alive, or taken when they 

 are dead or dying, while they float down the stream. 

 Amongst these are beetles that haunt trees hanging 

 over water, and hence often fall into it ; and in some 

 localities, grasshoppers, which are frequently drowned 

 by making a false spring. Of these, trout and other fish 

 are very fond; and though it is obvious they can sel- 

 dom obtain them, yet it is surprising to see how many 

 of them, when caught and opened, have their stomachs 

 crammed with grasshoppers and other land insects. 

 These are accordingly found to be excellent bait, and a 

 number of them may be easily dried in autumn and 

 preserved to fish with in the spring, when they are not 

 to be had in the fields. Even crickets, which may 

 always be had at a baker's, will form excellent bait, 

 from their similarity to grasshoppers. 



ANGLERS IMITATIVE DEVICES. 



IT is a very simple and obvious contrivance to offer 

 to fish any of the sorts of food above mentioned, with 

 one or more hooks, so concealed in it as not to create 

 alarm till the whole be swallowed, or gorged, as it is 

 termed by anglers. For this purpose, as we shall after- 

 wards see, small fish, shell fish, worms, caterpillars, 

 grubs, beetles, flies, and all sorts of insects, are em- 

 ployed to lure particular species of fish to the hooks. 

 It is still more common, however, for anglers to use 

 artificial baits, made in imitation, or pretended imi- 

 tation, of those that are natural. 



