198 ELEMENTS OF ANGLING. 



or wire. Also I prefer to join my minnow straight on 

 to the trace, (fastening either the loop or the spring 

 swivel at the end to. the eye of the swivel in the 

 mount), and not to have a link of gut between the 

 two, such as is generally supplied with the minnow. 

 Often one wants to use a Devon in a hurry, this 

 link of gut does not have time to soak properly, 

 and the result of hooking a good fish is catastrophe. 

 Nowadays my first action after buying a minnow is 

 to cut off the gut. .Lastly, one wants a box to 

 carry one's flights and minnows. A small flat 

 tobacco box does well enough, and each flight and 

 minnow should be wrapped in a separate piece of 

 paper, so that the hooks may not get hopelessly 

 entangled. Very fascinating flight-boxes, with 

 separate partitions, strips of cork, and every manner 

 of convenience, can be bought at^the shops ; but, 

 though pleasant both to look at and use, they are 

 not a necessity. 



The town-dwelling angler can, if he pleases, 

 generally buy himself dead minnows, gudgeon, and 

 other baits for spinning from the tackle-shop, and 

 he can get them either fresh or pickled in bottles. 

 Fresh baits are much more effective, and they 

 should be carried in a tin box half filled with bran. 

 But, of course, in hot weather their freshness is a 

 fleeting quality, and one. cannot depend on them 



