THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 45 



book, lunch, flask, &c. The hole to insert the fish is at the 

 side ; it has brass hinges, a hasp for padlock, and is furnished 

 with straps to carry waterproof coat and stockings. The 

 newest strap for slinging the basket is called the " Facile," 

 and is very comfortable. It can be easily attached or 

 detached, and prevents the basket from sliding under the 

 arm when stooping or getting over a fence. It is slung on 

 the left shoulder, the basket being kept in position by a 

 waist strap. Both waist and shoulder straps are adjustable 

 to any figure. It also gives greater freedom to the right 

 arm, and can be taken off instantly by unfastening the 

 waist strap in front. 



Beetles are used occasionally as bait for trout. The 

 two best sorts for this purpose are the red or copper 

 coloured variety, and the black one. They have two pairs of 

 wings each. The upper hard wings are clipped off before 

 putting on the beetle ; the hook should be inserted in 

 the thorax and brought out until the point is visible between 

 the shoulders ; the feet of the beetle must hang down when 

 dropped on the water. The copper coloured beetle is the 

 more enticing of the two, and may be found under the 

 old droppings of the horse or cow. The best place to angle 

 with these is under overhanging banks, just as if they had 

 dropped off on to the water. 



Black Bass, The. Under this heading is included 

 but two varieties of the species, which are those that will be 

 of interest to the British angler, and as there is evidently a 

 determination to introduce this sporting fish into our 

 waters, a notice of it may not be out of place. Both 

 varieties resemble each other in colour a black back, 

 golden olive sides, alternating to a light amber, and white 

 belly, with a spinous dorsal fin, not so deep but longer than 



