SKILL REQUIRED. 277 



difficulty in dislodging the hold without a breakage will 

 ensue. 



Although worm-fishing is not very clean and delicate 

 when compared with artificial fly-fishing, it requires no 

 little skill ; and the fish has many more chances in his 

 favour, particularly when the single hook is used, than 

 the angler who is unacquainted with it would be disposed 

 to imagine ; for the moderately skilful angler will certainly 

 not kill one fish for every two bites which he gets, and 

 often not for every three, even when the fish are inclined 

 to take worm, which is not every day ; while the unskilful 

 angler will feel tug after tug, and, unless the fish are 

 savagely hungry, will not kill one in six. I am of course 

 speaking of localities where the trout are accustomed to 

 be fished for with a worm, not in unsophisticated pre- 

 serves where we may say of the worm 



Oh, no ! we never mention it, 

 Its name is never heard ; 



and the majority, certainly, of south-country fishermen 

 will be disposed to add, ' and a good job too.' Still there 

 are districts where its use is universal, and where to 

 stop it would be to stop the sport of hundreds, and to 

 interdict fishing for at least one-half of the fishing-days in 

 the season. 



