236 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 



and broken worms where only a few hours intervene, or 

 where the two processes of ground baiting and fishing 

 commence simultaneously. 



For the latter purpose it is not necessary that the 

 ground bait should retain its vitality for any length of • 

 time, and an ordinary lob-worm may in this case be 

 broken certainly into two pieces, with advantage. 

 *' Chopping" on the other hand, or breaking the worm 

 into a number of small pieces, is certainly bad, as 

 thereby one chief element of attractiveness, life, is taken 

 away. A divided worm is for some time more lively 

 than a whole one. 



As a rule, worms, when employed as ground bait in 

 gentle currents, or in ponds and still water, are best 

 used by themselves simply, but in deep or strong water 

 it is necessary to enclose them in hollow clay balls, so 

 that the balls may carry the worms to the bottom before 

 bursting, or being washed open by the action of the 

 stream. The application of these rules will be ex- 

 plained more in detail in the chapter on Barbel 

 fishing. 



I cannot do better than conclude these observations 

 on ground bait with a rule which should never be for- 

 gotten : after ground baiting, plumb the exact depth, 

 and arrange the tackle so that it may not be necessary 

 to make a disturbance when fishing commences. 



