40 ANGLING IN SALT WATER. 



a heap of wet sand and seaweed, in a cellar or other cool 



place. 

 The Mackerel. — This fish is honoured with a chapter 



to itself; it is, therefore, sufficient to say that a strip of its 

 skin, cut so as to be half blue and half 

 silver, about Sin. long and iin. wide,*is the 

 best known bait for mackerel. The strip of 

 skin dangles at full length from a hook, 

 and, when drawn through the water, gives 

 a striking imitation of a young fish twist- 

 ing and twirling about (see Fig. 40). Congers 

 ha,Ye 8b penchant ior Si bit of mackerel, which 

 should be tried when they are biting 

 shyly, taking other and softer baits off the 

 hook. Cod, whiting, turbot, skate, and 

 many other sea fish, will also take it. The 

 strip of skin used in mackerel fishing is 

 sometimes called a "last." 



The Mudworm.-— (5ee Ragworm. 



FIG. 40. The Mackerel The Mussel.— An invaluable and much 

 Bait, or "Last.' ^ , . ^-r n i o • • • ^ 



used bait. Not the least of its virtues is the 



length of time it will keep alive, when placed in a basket or hamper 



cast into any quiet nook below high v/ater mark. Mussels are found 



on rocks, under seaweed, attached to the piles of piers, on a gravel 



bottom — in fact, they are ubiquitous. Almost all sea-fish may 



be caught with their assistance. If the fish are large-mouthed, 



such as whiting, large mussels should be used ; while for pouts 



small ones should be picked out. Some anglers bake them in 



their shells for a few minutes before using for bait, but I cannot 



recommend this plan. It certainly makes the mussel i)leasanter 



to use, but far less attractive to the fish. To open mussels 



requires a little practice. The point of the knife should be 



inserted between the shells at the broadest part, and given a 



twist, which levers the shell open. The fish has somewhat the 



appearance of an oyster turned yellow ; a small yellow heart, or 



* Mr. Wilcocks says the "last" should be triangular in shape, the apex or top 

 being caught on the hook. 



