LARV.E OF VARIOUS INSECTS USED AS BAIT. 86 7 



preserved with grass, in the same manner as directed in the 

 cade-worms. 



Beetles. — There are two sorts of these, which are excel- 

 lent for fishing ; the one is of a reddish copper-colour, and 

 the other black, and with two pairs of wings each ; the 

 upper one hard and of a husky nature, the other soft and 

 transparent, of a bluish colour, and when extended, much 

 longer than the hard ones : the former kind may be seen 

 flying in warm summer evenings, in June and July, and 

 taken in the day-time on the maple, oak, or osier. They 

 must be placed in boxes, with air-holes, and with them some 

 of the leaves of the tree on which they were found, and by 

 giving them these fresh, daily, they may be kept alive for a 

 week. The latter kind are found in the earth under fresh 

 horse-dung, (where they retire to deposit their eggs,) by 

 digging with a trowel ; and the holes they make in the 

 ground will direct the search. These may be kept in an 

 earthen pot, amongst earth. Beetles vary in size ; those 

 that lurk under horse or cow-dung, three or four days after 

 it is dropped, are the largest ; but those found in old stone 

 fences, and old potato-grounds, are to be preferred, although 

 not so big. Both these are excellent baits for trout and other 

 species of fish ; but the copper-coloured is decidedly the best. 

 In baiting the hook, clip off the elytra, or hard external 

 wings, and bring the beetle with his feet towards the water. 

 When there are streams, before the angler approaches them 

 too near, let him begin to fish just over the bank, and ad- 

 vance gradually until he can fish the stream ; then begin at 

 the top, and fish it gradually and regularly down, throwing 

 gently across it, (taking care not to whip off or damage the 

 bait,) and allowing the baits to float quietly down the stream, 

 sometimes just under the surface at others about mid- 

 water, particularly in deep streams : in small rivers, which 



