CREEPER-FISHING. 



respects, if worm, minnow, and natural fly are allowed, 

 what should be prohibited ? It is the common practice in 

 many places to fish gentles for trout, precisely as though 

 you were fishing for roach, using a fine quill float, and 

 throwing in a few gentles from time to time ; but I never 

 could abide fishing for trout with a float it is an insult 

 to the prince of bold-biting fish still it is practised in 

 the quiet eddies and holes with great effect, too ; and Mr. 

 Stoddart, who is a great authority upon worm-fishing, as 

 I have said, recommends the use of a float on small lakes 

 and pools. With respect to what methods of fishing are 

 fair and what not, the most satisfactory and safe plan to 

 go on would appear to be guided by custom ; if a person 

 confines himself to the custom of the place, he cannot be 

 far wrong. 



% 



ON GRAB OR OREEPEK-l'ISIIIXG. 



Here, again, is a method of bait-fishing very widely 

 indulged in, which is really very deadly in skilful hands, 

 and which might be deemed poaching if any bait-fishing 

 is ; nevertheless it is not. The crab or creeper is the larva 

 of the stone fly, and may be found running about amongst 

 the stones on the wet strands of rivers where the stone fly 

 is plentiful, during the month of April and on through 

 much of May, according to the season, a week or two sooner 

 or later. In appearance it resembles strongly a black 

 beetle which we used to call in my early youth the ' Devil's 

 coach-horses,' an insect which perhaps will be recognised 

 by its habit of erecting its tail, or the latter half of its 

 body, in the air, when disturbed. Like to it is the creeper,, 

 save that it has horns or feelers on the head, and some- 

 what similar appendages to the tail. It is not a prepos- 

 sessing looking insect. It is very active, and not so very 

 easy to catch. However, the laddies by the river-side will 



