A MINNOW-TRAP. 



67 



well over tlie net, and often have to be driven into it by 

 beating tbe water and poking the sedge at the sides of the 

 ditch with a stick. When the weather is very mild and the 

 water low, they work out into the river. In the "Practical 

 Fisherman," Mr. Keene gives the following method of catching 

 minnows in small streams : 



"Procure a large, wide-mouthed, transparent pickle-bottle, 

 and have the bottom cut out. Tie over the open bottom a piece 

 of thin canvas or calico. Place some small worms or bread in the 

 bottle, and drop the whole apparatus in the stream where there 

 are plenty of minnows, with its mouth looking down stream, 

 having a cord, of course, attached to its mouth." The stream, 

 percolating through the calico, causes eddying currents which 

 agitate the food and attract the minnows, which enter the bottle. 

 I have not tried this plan. Glass minnow-traps are sold at some 

 of the tackle- shops. In the Lower Thames, minnows are so 

 scarce that a fine-meshed cast-net has to be used to take them. 

 Some anglers believe that light- coloured min- 

 nows are more relished by the perch than dark 

 ones. Minnows are easily lightened in colour 

 by leaving them for half an hour in a white 

 earthenware basin exposed to the light. 



Fresh-water shrimps abound in most brooks 

 and ditches, especially those which grow water- 

 cresses. They are a first-rate bait, and should 

 always be tried when obtainable. When the 

 bottom of a brook is disturbed, they lose their 

 footing, and get carried down the stream, and 

 can easily be caught in a perforated zinc tray, 

 an old biscuit- canister with holes in it, or a fine- 

 meshed net. If some weeds are pulled up out of 

 ditches, a number of shrimps will often be found 

 mixed up with them. 



Faternostering is the most popular method 

 of taking perch, and it has many advantages. 

 The construction of the paternoster is very 

 clearly shown by the illustration (Fig. 29). For summer use, 

 the main length of gut should be as fine as it can be obtained 



G 2 



Fig. 29. Perch 

 Paternoster. 



