WITH THE PARR-TAIL, MINNOW, AND WORM. 281 



be placed at a distance of eighteen inches from the hook, 

 and should consist of at least five or six pellets of large 

 shot, Nos. 2 and 3. In all cases, the tackle in question 

 requires to be heavily shotted, but in regulating the 

 quantity of weight, it is quite necessary that attention 

 be paid to the power, depth, and swerve of the cast or 

 stream fished in. 



As to the worms best adapted for salmon fishing, I 

 require to say little. The lob or large dew- worm is 

 esteemed the favourite. This is easily obtained in the 

 desired quantity from almost any piece of garden ground. 

 It is met with, stretched at length on the earth during 

 mild nights, and especially after a shower when the 

 surface of the soil is damp (see Chapter vi.) Besides 

 the lob-worm, the large button- worm is sometimes used, 

 and possesses this advantage, that it is easily scoured 

 and becomes tougher and redder than the other. It is 

 not, however, found in such great abundance or in all 

 localities, and with respect to size is decidedly inferior 

 to the lob-worm. 



In baiting the hook, two, sometimes three worms 

 are made use of. These are attached in the follow- 

 ing way: Holding one of them betwixt the thumb 

 and forefinger of the left hand, insert the point of your 

 hook a short way below the head of the worm, which, I 

 shall suppose, measures in length eight or nine inches ; 

 run the bend of the wire carefully along through the 

 bait, to the full extent of an inch, in the direction of 

 the tail ; bring the point out again, and passing over an 

 equal portion of the worm, re-enter it further on, draw- 

 ing up, as you do so, what has already been transfixed, 

 along the shank of the hook, then, as before, bring out 

 the point an inch lower down. Repeat this proceeding 

 a third time, and at its completion pull the worm up 



