5<D BOTTOM OR FLOAT-FISHING. 



vene, or where the two processes of ground baiting 

 and fishing commence simultaneously. 



For the latter purpose it is not necessary 

 that the ground bait should retain its vitality 

 for any length of time, and an ordinary lob- 

 worm may in this case be broken certainly into 

 two pieces, with advantage. "Chopping" on the 

 other hand, or breaking the worm into a number of 

 small pieces, is certainly bad, as thereby one chief 

 element of attractiveness, life, is taken away. A 

 divided worm is for some time more lively than a 

 whole one. 



As a rule, worms, when employed as ground 

 bait in gentle currents, or in ponds and still water, 

 are best used by themselves simply, but in deep or 

 strong water it is necessary to enclose them in 

 hollow clay balls, so that the balls may carry the 

 worms to the bottom before bursting, or being 

 washed open by the action of the stream. The 

 application of these rules will be explained more in 

 detail in the remarks on Barbel fishing. 



I cannot do better than conclude these observa- 

 tions on ground bait with a rule which should never 

 be forgotten : after ground baiting, plumb the 



