194 AIR BUBBLES A BAD OMEN. 



with the necessity of baiting his hook carefully, 

 Captain Williamson observes : ' I have frequently 

 remarked the effects of doubt and of apprehension 

 in fishes of various descriptions, when any part 

 of my hook has been bare. They have come to 

 it in a balancing manner, and either shied off or 

 retreated, tail foremost, or they appeared to be 

 smelling to the bait, and throwing up bubbles of 

 air to the surface. This may be a thousand times 

 witnessed in clear waters, where all their motions 

 are perceptible. I have in general found it to be 

 a very bad omen. Fishes rarely discharge air in 

 this manner, except when in fear or in difficulty, 

 or when in the humour not to bite. If the worm 

 is properly threaded on the hook, so as completely 

 to envelope it, and to have the tail about an inch 

 pendant, lapping over into the bend, few hungry 

 fish will reject it. In this mode of putting on the 

 bait, less opportunity is given for tugging at any 

 part, while it is greatly in favour of hooking any 

 fish that may bite fairly. As a single worm is 

 the more certain bait, so is a double bait, con- 

 sisting of two worms, more alluring, especially to 

 all the ravenous tribe ; therefore, for such it is 

 particularly eligible. It is applied thus : put the 

 hook into the mouth of the largest of two worms, 

 and thread it for about a third its length ; then 

 bring out the point of the hook, and slide the 

 worm up, so as to be kept above the bend, and 



