26 



In such cases, too, the hook should be carefully put in 

 as near as possible at the mouth of the worm, so as to afford 

 no means for making experiments, as fish are often apt to 

 do when shy, or dainty, by pulling at any little hanging 

 point they can get at. 



I have sometimes seen fishes amusing themselves, in 

 picking at die head and tail of my bait ; causing my float 

 to be incessantly in motion, though not one would take 

 the bait fairly into its mouth ! 



This shews with what care a hook must be baited; for 

 if any part of it can be seen, or felt, especially the point, 

 no fish will approach it. 



I have frequently remarked the effects of doubt and of 

 apprehension, in fishes of various descriptions, when any 

 part of my hook has been bare. They have come to it in 

 a balancing manner, and either shy'd off. or retreated tail 

 foremost, or they have appeared to be smelling to the 

 bait, but throwing up bubbles of air to the surface. 



This may be a thousand times witnessed in clear wa- 

 ters, where all their motions are perceptible : I have in 

 general found it to be a very bad omen. Fishes rarely 

 -discharge air in this manner, except when in fear, or in 

 difficulty, or when in the humour not to bite. 



If the worm is properly threaded on the hook, so as 

 completely to envelope it, and to have the tail about an 

 inch pendant, lapping over into the bend, few hungry fish 

 will reject it. In this mode of putting on the bait, less 

 opportunity is given for tugging at any part, while it is 

 greatly in favour of hooking any fish that may bite 

 fairly. 



As a single worm is the more certain bait, so is a double 

 bait, consisting of two worms, more alluring, especially 



to 



