122 ON FISHING WITH THE WORM FOR TROUT. 



and continue the running on, bringing, as he does so, 

 the wounded parts into contact immediately over the 

 bend of the instrument, and thereby furthering its 

 entire concealment. Nearly one-third of the worm 

 should, on all occasions, be left to move about as it 

 wills, beyond the point of the hook. This serves as a 

 lure to attract fish and does not, as some imagine, 

 interfere with the seizure of the tackle ; for no trout, 

 however cautious and wary, ever engrosses its prey 

 otherwise than head-foremost. Accordingly, on taking 

 the worm, it always assails the thicker extremity, and 

 at no time wastes its attack on the tail or lower end of 

 the bait. Considering this, and the liability which, in 

 consequence, the upper portion runs of returning to 

 hand broken and disabled, should the striking prove 

 unsuccessful, some anglers instead of inserting the hook 

 below, actually do so through the mouth or orifice of 

 the head itself. Another reason brought forward, in 

 support of this mode of baiting, is, that, in the ordinary 

 plan, the mere casting of the line serves, not unfre- 

 quently, to break or injure what they term the neck of 

 the worm, namely, that part of it where the hook is 

 first inserted. This, I allow, is an objection of some 

 weight, but it acts as a meagre set-off to the bad effect 

 of their practice, which is no less than to curtail at 

 an early stage the life and action of the worm, thereby 

 destroying its efficacy as a lure or provocative, and 

 rendering it, in fact, a mere piece of dead matter. 



While on this subject, let me caution the angler to 

 pay close attention to the condition of his worm ; 

 indeed, every two or three unsuccessful casts he ought 

 strictly to examine it, in case it has either become 

 partially disengaged from the hook, or is in any degree 

 maimed and ruptured, not to say water-logged and 



