50 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



useful friend pulex gammarius, but it is not so killing as either of the two 

 preceding. Part of a small mussel is often of use, and may be tried when 

 other means have failed to complete the capture of the whole shoal. The 

 worm is, however, after all a safe and sure bait, and has the merit of 

 being easily procurable. Walton advises a ground bait of earth, but this 

 advice originated possibly in his having seen the eagerness with which a 

 whole shoal en masse will seek any slight turbidity of the water. It must 

 be borne in mind that they seek minute entomastraca and annelids, not 

 dirt, like a lobworm, although, sooth to say, they manage to swallow a 

 lot of dirt sometimes, judging by what I have occasionally emptied from 

 the pylorus. A good raking of the water with the ordinary gudgeon 

 rake is all that is required, and then the angler may work his will. 

 Walton recommends angling for him to the young angler for practice, 

 because he bites vigorously and often. 



