THE BARBEL. 65 



they will crush up. Now put them and the scratchings 

 into a receptacle together, and then add a half-quartern of 

 barley flour, and mix the whole mass till it will hang to- 

 gether in lumps. It is now ready for use. The cost of this 

 ground bait is but trifling, and it is used a good deal on the 

 Trent. Lumps about the size of a cricket-ball are thrown in, 

 about two-thirds in one night, and the remainder the night 

 after. The swim can be fished the following day. The 

 angler must remember that before he fishes the swim he must 

 take a little ground bait with him to use while he is fishing, 

 and he ought to prepare it fresh the night before he goes, 

 because it is of no use saving any of that he prepared first, as 

 it is likely to be sour. Before he scalds his scratchings, 

 therefore, in the first instance he ought to save about a pound 

 of it, a few potatoes, and a handful or two of the barley meal, 

 which can be prepared either the morning he starts to fish, 

 or the night before. Of course, when this ground bait is 

 used, your hook-bait is scratchings, the nicest, best, and 

 whitest bit you can pick out of some that is specially scalded, 

 and without the addition of the potatoes and barley flour 

 (this should also be scalded fresh before you use it) . A bit 

 of white pipe is a very good bait, and is much liked by both 

 barbel and chub. The tackle for this bait should be the same 

 as the worm tackle, except in the case of the hooks. A lip- 

 hook will not be wanted, and instead of a IS'o. 5 or 6 hook 

 on the bottom, two No. 7 hooks whipped back to back will 

 be the best. In baiting, the tackle can be released from the 

 line, and the pipe slipped over the shots and down till it is 

 stopped by the bend of the hooks, the points are then 

 covered by a small piece of the scratchings, and the bait is 

 ready for use. This sort of ground bait, to my mind, has its 

 objections, for, after you have done fishing the swim, very 

 few more fish can be caught in it for a week or two after, it 

 makes them sickly, and I think it spoils the sport for any 



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