OF BAIT,% AND THEIR PRESERVATION. 855 



coarse line, and in sight, especially when the former has a 

 reel on his rod with a running line ; and if he wades in shal- 

 lows and sharps, in fishing for trout. The angler should be 

 careful to suit the footlink to the water ; the rest of the line 

 is immaterial. A reddish sorrel hair, when the water is 

 somewhat red on the decline of the flood ; a light chestnut, 

 when the water is of a whej-colour ; and a lead-coloured- 

 hair is to be preferred when the water is of an iron hue, 

 which it commonly is, in many rivers, when full without 

 overflowing : an amber-coloured footlink, free from chalky- 

 white, or knotty-specks, is best when the water is low and 

 clear as crystal. 



OF BAITS, AND THEIR PRESERVATION. 



Anglers must know where they can procure and how to 

 keep baits alive, as well as those which fish are accustomed 

 to feed upon, which are pretty numerous. 



Various sorts should be well scoured before using, to effect 

 which purpose, and also to preserve them healthy, the follow- 

 ing methods may be adopted ; and it is worthy of remark 

 that the lob, marsh, and red worm, will bear more scouring 

 than any others, and are better for long keeping. 



Procure a quantity of horse or cow hair, and cut it in to 

 lengths of five or six inches, place it in an earthenware 

 dish with a lid, and put the worms upon it. In a couple of 

 hours they will have cleared themselves of any dirt that may 

 have been on them. Take them out of the hair, and do not 

 allow any of it to stick to them ; and be careful to pick out 

 such as may be dead or wounded. Clean out the dish, and 

 put the worms into it, covering them with garden mould to the 

 depth of a couple of inches, and moisten it every day with new 

 milk ; and let the earth be changed for new once a month. 



