44 ANGLING IN SALT WATER. 



Shrimps. — These well-known little creatures are very useful 

 baits. "When alive, pollock will take them, and in their raw 

 state, if peeled, they are also a first-rate bait for mullet, smelts, 

 and small flat fish. For harbour fishing they are, however, 

 usually boiled ; but to do so is a mistake. To keep shrimps alive, 

 it is necessary to place them in a box, pierced with holes (a 

 finely woven basket will do), moored in salt water. 



Smelts and Atherine, or Sand-smelts. — These little 

 fish abound in harbours and sandy bays. They are easily cap- 

 tured on a fine paternoster {see pages 54, 55), and large hauls 

 are sometimes made by means of fine-meshed seine nets. They 

 are a good bait, and can be used alive, trailed or mounted on 

 spinning tackle, when sand-eels are not to be obtained. They 

 are often used by professional fishermen for baiting long 

 lines, conger and turbot being very fond of them. Their 

 great fault is that they are soft, and easily spoiled ; thus, for 

 spinning, a good supply should be taken. The sand-smelt 

 may be distinguished from the smelt proper by having rays 

 in the second dorsal fin, which in the true smelt is adipose 

 or fatty, somewhat like that of the Salmonidcn. 



Snails. — Garden snails may be used for whiting pout when 

 nothing better is obtainable. 



Sprats. — As these valuable little food-fishes are only caught 

 during the autumn and winter months, they are not much 

 used by the angler in salt water; but they are a good bait, 

 and are taken by the fish which are caught on the pilchard bait. 



Squid. — The squid is very similar to the cuttle fish, but is, 

 if anything, rather a better bait. There are several varieties. 

 All that has been said concerning the cuttle as a bait equally 

 applies to this fish. 



Whelks. — I am not aware that whelks are used as a bait, 

 except for cod, and occasionally for pout. They are taken 

 by dredging, in lobster-pots, and on long lines, to which are 

 fastened small crabs strung on twine. 



White Sandworms are found in sand and sandy mud. A 

 good many fish will take them, particularly sand-smelts. 



