The North Country Angler. 57 



CHAP. XVI. 



Of the Grub, or Earth-Bob. 



JL HERE is a considerable part of the fishing 

 season, in which the grub is an excellent bait, 

 but I choose to use it only when trouts will take 

 nothing better, or so well; and that is after mid~ 

 summer. There are many sorts of them, as 

 many as there are species of beetles ; for they 

 are all the erucas of that tribe of insects, and 

 differ in their size and colour, according to the 

 species of their mother beetle or clock. Those 

 commonly used by anglers, are the earth-bob, 

 and the cowturd grub. 



The earth-bob is bred in old pasture grounds; 

 and may be got in great plenty when such pas- 

 tures are ploughed up. You may know where 

 and when to find them by the crows following 

 the plough, and filling their throats with them 

 to carry to their young. This grub is much 

 larger than the other, and may be kept in a tub 

 or jar, with some of the earth in which they are 

 bred. 



They are chiefly used in float-fishing for chub, 

 dace, &c. though a trout will take it very well, 

 if used and fished with as the cod-bait. I often 

 fish with it in the shade under bushes, with a 

 short strong line, by itself or with a pair of wings 

 on a bristled hook, on the top of the water; 

 sometimes in strong streams, and in the deeps 

 in a ruffling wind. 



The lesser grub is bred on cow plats, the 



