GROUND-BAITS. 45 



Gronnd-baits. — References to ground-baiting will be found 

 scattered through this book, and I need only here mention a 

 few recipes for some of these invaluable mixtures. One of the 

 best for use in slack water is that known in the Channel Islands 

 as chervin. It simply consists of very young shrimps, which are 

 caught in a fine-meshed net and salted down. A few spoonfuls, 

 mixed with a little water, are thrown in when it is desired to 

 attract grey mullet. Another mixture, which answers as ground- 

 bait for many sea fish, consists of green crabs pounded up, 

 and limpets, their shells broken, and themselves chopped up 

 small. Green crabs may also be pounded up with chalk or 

 oyster shells. Pilchard guts, or pieces of the fish cut up, are 

 extremely useful for attracting fish, owing to the amount of oil 

 given off. Fish meeting with globules of this oil very likely 

 follow up the scent until they come to the ground-bait, by which 

 is the angler's tackle. In France, America, and Australia, 

 ground-baiting is not uncommon; but it is little practised in 

 England. In America, herrings are pounded up in a mill to 

 make ground-bait for mackerel. At San Sebastian, balls of 

 clay, heads of sardines, and potatoes, are thrown in to attract 

 grey mullet; crumbs of bread are sometimes thrown on the 

 surface of the sea for the same purpose. 



I have spoken of ground-bait as attracting the fish. The 

 vulgar idea is that it possesses that property alone. It has, 

 however, two other virtues, which are, if anything, more valuable 

 than the first-named. It causes fish to feed; and secondly, it 

 lulls their suspicions. These remarks apply with equal, if not 

 greater, force to angling in fresh water. 



The angler cannot be too particular about his baits. He 

 should have a goodly supply ; they should be the best obtainable, 

 and always be tended with care if kept for more than the day. 



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