ON ANGLING WITH THE WORM 135 



can get most easily. The great point is to have 

 them of the right size and well scoured. When 

 newly dug, they are so full of earth as to be unfit for 

 use. Brandlings may be scoured in a day or two, 

 but the other kinds require to be kept at least a 

 week. Immediately on being dug> they should be 

 washed in water, and put into an earthenware jar 

 with plenty of moss. The moss should be well 

 washed, and wrung as hard as possible, and all the 

 small sticks and straws picked carefully out, as they 

 are apt to cut the worms. The jar should be 

 examined every second or third day, and all the 

 dead or sickly worms picked out and the moss 

 changed. The process of toughening worms can 

 only be accomplished by keeping the moss dry, so 

 that the worms may lose some of the moisture of 

 their bodies, and thus become tougher and more 

 durable. This is objectionable, as it impairs the 

 vitality of the worms, giving them, if carried to any 

 extent, a very withered look. When thoroughly 

 divested of earthy matter, worms can be easily 

 baited ; and they will last quite long enough without 

 going through the additional process of toughening, 

 or rather drying. The worm -jar should always be 

 kept in a cool place. 



For containing worms when angling, a flannel bag, 

 large enough to admit the hand freely, will be found 

 the most convenient receptacle. It should have a 

 loop attached to it, by which it may be fastened to 

 the button of the angler's coat, and a separate string 

 to tie round the mouth. If the angler intends fishing 



