BAITS 115 



There is something very delightful about that ' only.' 



Oysters of the commoner kinds make very good baits for 

 most kinds of fish. Not that I suppose a cod or haddock 

 would strongly object to a well-flavoured native, particularly if 

 he had not to pay for it, and the bacteria of typhoid could be 

 guaranteed absent. If oysters are deemed too expensive, their 

 beards can be used. 



Pilchards are among the oiliest of fishes, and much valued 

 on that account either as bait or ground bait. So far as Britain 

 is concerned, they are not generally found very far beyond the 

 coasts of Cornwall and Devon. The inside of a pilchard, though 

 somewhat difficult to keep on the hook, will attract almost any 

 fish that is to be found in the sea. It is a particularly good 

 bait when mackerel fishing at anchor, in midwater or near the 

 bottom, and there is nothing better in the ground-bait net. If 

 the flesh is used, the pilchard may be cut up in exactly the same 

 manner as the herring, but the scales should be very carefully 

 scraped off while it is still fresh. If it has dried at all, it should 

 be soaked before this is done. But it is not a good thing to 

 cut the bait into pieces until just before it is going to be used, 

 for the oil which bleeds from the severed portion is, as I have 

 said, very attractive. In Cornish waters a long strip from the 

 side of a pilchard is a favourite bait for large pollack. Begin 

 the cut by taking the whole width of the tail, together with 

 some of the cartilage, and cut away gradually, tapering to a 

 point near the shoulder. Some men start the cut at the 

 shoulder. The hook should be stuck through the piece of 

 cartilage at the tail end, the remainder of the bait streaming 

 out and waving about in the current. Pilchards are sometimes 

 salted down for use as baits, but when this is done they should 

 be soaked in fresh water for some hours before being used. 



Prawns, though excellent baits for almost all sea fish, are 

 too scarce to be commonly used. They are most deadly if 



