146 THE PIKE 



before. Formalin not only preserves baits, but it 

 tans and toughens them, which is a decided advantage. 

 It is a gaseous body obtained by the slow oxidation 

 of methylated alcohol, and is sold mixed with water 

 in various strengths, but never, I believe, more than 

 a 40 per cent, solution. This strength is unneces- 

 sarily strong for bait preservation, and it is usual to 

 dilute it down considerably. 



All baits, sprats in particular, give off a consider- 

 able amount of grease and watery matter when first 

 placed in either spirits or formalin solution, and to 

 obtain satisfactory results it is desirable to put them 

 into a fresh bottle of the mixture at the end of a week 

 or ten days. If they are going to be used in the course 

 of a day or two, this is not necessary. Formalin is 

 such a new preservative, l so far as baits are concerned, 

 that the best strength has not yet been exactly 

 ascertained, but it is generally believed that a 10 per 

 cent, solution will answer every purpose, and that a 



1 I have not succeeded particularly well with baits preserved 

 in formalin, and have recently met several anglers who hold 

 the opinion that fish do not like baits so prepared, preferring 

 even those which have been kept in evil-smelling methylated 

 spirit. At present the evidence for or against the new preserva- 

 tive is not sufficient to enable me to form a very definite opinion. 

 It certainly keeps the baits well and toughens them, and there 

 is little or no smell with it. J. B. 



