FISHERMAN'S BAITS. 457 



" tang" bent back at right angles, which is let into 

 the staff and so renders its pulling out impossible. 

 For fear of accidents, protect the points of gaffs with 

 a cork. 



Almost every item of this sea tackle we may add, 

 is good for use in large inland rivers or lakes except 

 the heavy leads. Nothing does better than the hand- 

 lines used at sea for boat fishing in large lakes, either 

 while bottom fishing or when sailing with a line 

 trailing behind the boat. The smaller classes of sea- 

 hooks also suit admirably for every sort of fresh water 

 fishing. A length of " long-line " same as that used 

 by sea fishermen does good work in fresh as well as 

 in salt water. Every sort of fish may be caught in 

 this way, especially large quantities of fine eels, which 

 in clear water, prove excellent eating. 



The subject of baits is a large one. Among all the 

 various forms of animated nature there is probably no 

 class of creatures that prey upon each other more 

 generally than fish in fact it may be said that as a 

 rule the principal food of fishes consists of fish. 



" It is rather remarkable that some of the baits in general 

 use, and which are undoubtedly attractive mussels and whelks 

 for example are just those particular kinds which can form 

 but a very small or probably no portion of the natural food 

 of the fishes which take them." "This would seem to point 

 to the advantage of a more general use of fish bait." * 



Probably mussels, whelks, etc., are taken as some 

 sort of fish, as are also the slices of fish skin cut off 

 freshly caught fish, which make such excellent baits 

 for mackerel and whiting fish. There can be little 

 doubt that their companions take them to be some 



* Deep Sea Fishing, by Edmund W. H. Holdsworth, 1874, p. 4. 



