baits, baiting, and ground bait. 235 



Grains. 

 Brewer's grains or malt is a coarse, sour ground bait, 

 with which I never had much success. 



Rice. 



' Boiled rice used in the positions described for gentles, 



is the best ground bait for Minnows ; and by bearing in 



mind what has been said as regards the attractiveness of 



bran for Bleak, and gentles for Roach and Dace, much 



trouble will be spared to the angler when procuring 



supplies of live-bait with the casting-net. A stillish 



curve or eddy of river about two feet deep will be found 



the best description of spot both for the application 



of this principle of baiting, and for using the cast-net 



effectually. 



WORIMS, 



If not the best, form one of the two or three very 

 best ground baits for Barbel, Bream, Chub, Perch, Carp, 

 and Tench. Authorities differ as to whether they should 

 be used whole or " chopped." 



Mr. Francis Francis, who has written some of the best 

 chapters on bottom fishing with which I am acquainted, 

 recommends "broken" worms; whilst Mr. Baily, of 

 Nottingham, in his clever little manual, is strongly in 

 favour of the "whole" system, at any rate so far as pre- 

 viously baited swims for Barbel are concerned. Whole 

 worms are, I think, preferable in all cases where swims 

 are baited any considerable time before being fished, 



