388 MANUAL FOR YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



cessive washings in cold water, by degrees the process is 

 completed, care being taken not to dissolve the gluten 

 itself by mixing it up with the water ; and to avoid this, 

 after each successive washing, let the paste drain for a few 

 minutes. This paste will keep for any length of time, if 

 protected from the action of the air by wrapping it in 

 sheet-lead. 



GROUND-BAIT. The object of this very general acces- 

 sory to the angler's art is to collect an unusual number of 

 fish to a given spot, and at the same time to do this by offer- 

 ing them a quantity of bait of the same kind as that which 

 is afterwards to be used on the hook, but of an inferior 

 quality to it. Thus, if intending to fish with earth-worms, 

 bait with unsecured worms, and fish with them well scoured. 

 Worms in clay-balls are a good ground bait, because they 

 are not all at once presented to the fish, but appear gradu- 

 ally as the clay dissolves. Mr. Salter, who is a good 

 authority in bottom-fishing, recommends the crumb of a 

 quartern loaf to be cut in slices two inches thick, and soaked 

 in water till thoroughly saturated, then squeeze it tolera- 

 bly dry, and add bran and pollard, kneading all together till 

 a firm mass is the result as tough as clay. Soaked greaves, 

 which are commonly known in the United States as craps, 

 being the refuse of flesh used in sausage-making, mixed with 

 tenacious clay, are a very useful ground-bait ; and may be 

 made into large masses, and thrown into the water in 

 lumps of two or three pounds weight. Gentles mixed 

 with sand are also used, but they should be unsecured, and 

 coarse old carrion gentles for this purpose are the best, as 



