180 THE SALT OF MY LIFE 



tricked only by a cunning that matches its own. 

 Anyone trying to catch an estuary fish of that 

 kind with ordinary pier tackle and herring-bait 

 might just as well fish in the High Street. On 

 night-lines, it is true, which are, save as sources 

 of commercial supply, iniquitous contrivances, 

 even an estuary bass will fall a victim, particu- 

 larly when the hooks are baited with such a deli- 

 cacy as soft crab, but night-lines have no place 

 in the sportsman's outfit, and as long as daylight 

 lasts these river-bass will be found to require very 

 fine tackle and, if possible, live bait. The latter 

 is to be preferred, not only because the fish as 

 a rule like it better than any other, but even, as 

 I think, because they show better sport when 

 taken on it than if the bait were squid or dead 

 fish. In arguing the question, it is no doubt fair 

 to make allowance for the fact that the use of live 

 bait implies also the use of fine tackle and little 

 or no lead, both of which conditions conduce to 

 the best of sport, whereas the other baits are used 

 on the bottom with a heavy lead, the inertia of 

 which deadens the play of the fish. Even so, 

 however, I regard a bass which seizes live bait as 

 in its best hunting mood, on its mettle, more in- 

 clined to put up a good fight than one that is 

 merely scavenging along the shore or round a pier. 

 It is the difference, in short, between the spirit of 

 a corsair and that of a dustman. For this reason. 



