BAITS, BAITING, AND GROUND BAIT. 45 



of which there are many species, furnishing several 

 of the insects most popular for imitation by the 

 artificial fly. In the larval state it is found in the 

 banks of most streams amongst gravel, decayed 

 reed-roots, and other aquatic debris. It is enve- 

 loped in a shell or case, generally cylindrical, re- 

 sembling commonly a piece of dead' stick or rush, 

 and from this it is of course necessary to disen- 

 cumber it before use. 



GROUND BAITS AND BAITING. 



IN every description of bottom fishing, ground 

 bait, or a substitute for it, can be used with ad- 

 vantage. Anglers, however, often make a great 

 mistake in ground baiting, by so surfeiting the fish 

 with food that they have no need or appetite to 

 attack the hook-bait, which, in comparison, must 

 always present a more or less unnatural appear- 

 ance. On this account also it is generally better 

 in rivers to fish a little below rather than actually 

 over or above the ground bait, because by so doing 

 there is a greater chance of the unsatiated fish which 

 are working up stream towards the ground bait, 

 coming first into contact with the bait on the hook 



