38 ANGLING IN SALT WATER. 



quantities off closely-mown lawns, and by tlie sides of garden 

 paths, at any time during the night, unless the wind blows 

 roughly; on windy nights they should be searched for in 

 sheltered spots. They can, of course, only be seen by the 

 light of a lantern, and are more abundant after a showery 

 day than during a spell of dry weather. Redworms and 

 brandlings, which are found in old dungheaps, are also 

 occasionally used in harbour jB.shing with success. Earth- 

 worms can be kept for a considerable time in damp moss, 

 which should be changed occasionally and the dead worms 

 picked out. The longer the worms are in the moss, the better 

 they are for bait. 



Eels. — Small fresh-water eels, or elvers as they are called, 

 make excellent whiffing baits for bass and pollack. They are 

 not easily obtained, and should be sought for under stones in 

 brooks, an iron table-fork being held in readiness to impale 

 them immediately they are discovered. Young conger eels 

 make equally good baits for the same purpose; they are to 

 be found in little pools, and under rocks left bare by the 

 receding tide. In a bay where a strea.m trickles down a 

 valley, over the beach, and among the rocks, into the sea, they 

 lie under those rocks below high water mark by which the fresh 

 water passes. When the eels are too large for use — over 

 6in. or 7in. in length — a portion of them can be used. To 

 bait with eels, see page 28. 



The Garfish, Lougnose, Snipe-Eel, or Sea-ITeedle.— 



Small pieces of this fish, which is more fully described in 

 Chapter IX., are sometimes used as baits for conger, whiting, 

 and skate ; and a strip cut from its side is occasionally trailed 

 for pollack, mackerel, and bass. 



Gentles. — These are the maggots found in fly-blown meat, 

 and are a very useful bait for bottom-fishing in fresh water. 

 Grey mullet will sometimes take them in harbours. They can 

 generally be obtained, during the summer months, at any 

 butcher's. They should be kept in bran or damp sand, in 

 a cellar or some other cool, dark place. 



The Herring. — This valuable food fish is very useful as a 



