206 STALE BREAD PASTE. 



strong eddies and powerful streams ; but it does 

 not apply so well to the finer fishings of roach 

 and dace in moderate streams and still deeps, 

 since it will not separate so readily from the hook 

 in striking as the paste made from stale bread ; 

 and this peculiar property of separating, to allow 

 the easiest egress for the point of the hook when 

 the angler strikes at a fish, the experienced roach- 

 fisher considers to be essential. In chub-fishing, 

 on the contrary, its adhesive property is valuable, 

 as a larger piece will stick to a larger hook with- 

 out being washed off, as the brittle stale bread 

 paste would be. It is also more useful than the 

 latter paste for taking dace in the Thames, as well 

 as in the streamy parts of all other dace rivers. 

 This paste is convenient from the quickness with 

 which it is made at home, or by the river side. 



Stale bread paste is made of bread one day, or 

 at most only two days, old. In the latter case 

 the bread should be taken from the centre of the 

 loaf. First dip it momentarily in clean water, 

 and instantly squeeze it as dry as possible ; then, 

 placing it in the palm of one hand, work it with 

 the knuckles and tops of the fingers of the other 

 for about twenty minutes, when it will have ar- 

 rived at the fitting consistence. It is well to ob- 

 serve that, as all bread pastes have a tendency 

 to become quickly sour, particularly if wetted, it 

 is advisable, should the angler have far to travel, 



