BAITS 89 



seasons next to nothing is to be obtained suitable for the 

 purpose. It was thought possible an oily extract of pilchard 

 could be produced, with which some substance in common use 

 and easily procurable could be flavoured. It can hardly be said 

 that any success attended the experiments. The extract was 

 certainly made, but no substance has yet been discovered 

 which, when flavoured with it, will keep on the hooks and be 

 acceptable to fish. Possibly some sea angler of the future will 

 make the discovery ; for sea anglers are not less ingenious 

 than other members of the craft. One medium which I sug- 

 gested to the then director of the M.B.A. was macaroni. If 

 the hollow centre could be filled with the extract of squid or 

 pilchard and the ends sealed, the whole would be permeated 

 with the strong-smelling liquid. From the mullet-fishing ex- 

 perience related in Chapter XI. it seems that at least one sea 

 fish favours this bait even without the essence. If a quasi- 

 artificial bait of this nature can be discovered, the fisher- 

 men will benefit to the extent of many thousand pounds 

 annually. 



In connection with baits there are one or two little items 

 to be considered namely, a bait knife, a hone on which to 

 sharpen it, a bait box, and a bait board. Any flat wooden box 

 with a cover if hinged so much the better dressed with pitch 

 inside, and with a few small holes at the sides for ventilation, 

 answers very well to hold sea worms. It should be kept 

 scrupulously clean, and the size must, of course, depend on the 

 size of the bait and the quantity required. Dead baits must 

 be removed daily. For just a few ragworms the ordinary 

 japanned tin bait boxes used for worms and gentles answer 

 well enough, but they must be japanned inside as well as out 

 to prevent rust. More often any old mustard or other tin 

 which may be forthcoming is used and thrown away after- 

 wards, 



N 



