46 BOTTOM OR FLOAT-FISHING. 



As a general rule, to which, however, there are 

 several exceptions, it may be stated as the rationale 

 of ground baiting, that the bait used on the ground 

 should be of the same description as, but inferior 

 in quality to, that used on the hook. 



Bearing in mind this rule, it will hardly be 

 necessary to explain that of the ground baits which 

 I am about to enumerate, the majority are also 

 used as baits for the hook some simply, some in 

 combination with others. To begin with, 



GENTLES. 



" Carrion Gentles" are generally used for pur- 

 poses of ground bait, being smaller, more easily 

 procured, and otherwise inferior to the liver gentles, 

 which should be used on the hook, thus carrying 

 out the cardinal principles of ground baiting 

 already indicated. Carrion gentles can be obtained 

 from any carcase or offal ; they are, I believe, 

 generally procured for the tackle-shops from the 

 dealers in horse-flesh. They should be mixed with 

 moist sand, as, if kept in any quantity, pure and 

 en masse, they are apt to scald, as the expression 

 is ; that is, they become so heated that many die. 



