BAIT-FISHING. 427 



line fishing will be the most successful. The first is prac- 

 tised as follows : Take the needle, armed and suspended 

 as already described, and draw on it a large lob-worm in 

 the following manner. Enter the eye of the needle at the 

 head of the worm, and run it down till the whole needle is 

 covered except the point, which is inserted in the notch 

 or slit at the end of the rod, leaving the worm free. In 

 this way the head of the worm is presented to the eel, and 

 is conducted into his hole or haunt by the bent end of the 

 rod. As this end can be set at any angle, it may be guid- 

 ed round stumps or stones, and when it is gently insinuat- 

 ed as far as it will go, it is quietly left there. The line 

 attached to the hook is held in the left hand, and as soon 

 as the fish seizes the bait and has drawn it out of the cleft 

 stick, slacken the line, and gently withdraw the stick ; 

 give a little time for the eel to swallow the bait, and then 

 strike, when the needle will cross his throat, and hold him 

 securely. Do not attempt at once to draw him out, but 

 let him tire himself first, and when he is exhausted, pull 

 him out. Bobbing is practised with the worms strung on 

 worsted, as already described, and gathered up in links, 

 which are to be attached to a line of whipcord about two 

 yards long, having a knot on it eight or ten inches from 

 the worms, and the lead slipped down to that point. 

 When the eels bite, their teeth stick in the worsted, and 

 they may be gently pulled out before they disentangle 

 them. This mode I have never seen practised, and I 

 have great doubts of its efficiency with any but small eels. 

 Boys, however, there is no doubt do thus succeed in taking 

 large numbers of these. For the purpose of taking eels by 



