48 BOTTOM PISHING IN THE NOTTINGHAM STYLE. 



rotten tan heaps, where they sometimes attain a large size, 

 even to three and four inches in length, and the thickness of 

 a dew worm. Brandlings of this size are not very common, 

 two inches in length is the general size. I have caught 

 barbel with the largest size, when they would take nothing 

 else ; and they are the very best bait for bream. The cock- 

 spur is a worm of a bright red colour ; it is about one and a 

 half inches long, and has a light -coloured knob about half 

 an inch from the head ; it is found in similar situations to 

 the brandling, and is a capital bait, but more especially for 

 roach, dace, &c. Blood worms are found under the excre- 

 ment of horned cattle, they are a small worm of a deep red 

 colour, and are a capital bait for chub. Before using any of 

 these worms they should be scoured for about twenty-four 

 hours in some clean moss ; two, three, or four of these sorts 

 of worms, according to their sizes, on a ^o. 8 hook, make a 

 capital chub bait, especially in the months of February and 

 March. At the beginning of the season, say about the latter 

 end of June, and all through July, the caddis will be found 

 a deadly bait for chub. These curious-looking insects are 

 found sticking to the stones, on the under side, next to the 

 bottom of the river. I have found them in the Trent from 

 May to August, and sometimes in September. In gathering 

 them carefully pull up a stone, and as carefully turn it over ; 

 and sometimes you may see as many as a dozen sticking to it. 

 They are protected by an outside shell, this shell is about 

 three quarters of an inch long and a quarter of an inch thick, 

 it is composed of very minute pebbles and shells on the out- 

 side, while the inside looks to me to be composed of sand and 

 slime from the insect. When you have gathered a quantity 

 of them, they are ready for use at once, the sooner the better, 

 for they become soft and flabby if kept any time. I have 

 tried various dodges to keep them for a few days, and have 

 put them in a vessel of water, changing the water two or 



