384 SALMON AND TROUT. 



Mr. Stewart was the first to advocate a radical reform in 

 the matter of trout worm-tackle. His change was to substitute 

 three or four small hooks for the one large one. This plan, hy 

 which the hooks were quickly and lightly passed transversely 

 through the worm instead of being, as it were, threaded through 

 it, has the additional merit of keeping the bait alive much 

 longer, as well as of enabling the fish to be struck almost at the 

 instant of biting, instead of being allowed some uncertain period 

 in which to fairly ' mouth,' or, as it happens in many cases, 

 ' pouch ' the worm. 



The drawback to this tackle of Mr. Stewart's was, however, 

 in my opinion, the unnecessary multiplication of the hooks. 

 These produced a certain amount of difficulty and delay both 

 in baiting and subsequent disgorging from the fish's mouth. 

 They also disfigured the worm, shortened its life, and whilst 

 detracting somewhat from the natural appearance of the bait, 

 were at the same time more conspicuous. 1 



Indeed, as a matter of fact, I found it was by no means a 

 very easy matter to insert the three, or, still worse, four hooks 

 in their proper positions in the bait without breaking it. 



In order therefore to meet these objections, whilst at the 

 same time preserving the excellent principle involved in sub- 

 stituting several smaller hooks for one large one, I adopted, 

 and some years ago brought to the notice of worm fishers, a 

 two-hook tackle, which I believe will be found to embrace the 

 meritorious part of Mr Stewart's invention without its draw- 

 back. I may, perhaps, here quote from the arguments, pro and 

 con, which I adduced at the time in support of these views. 2 



1 The Practical Angler. 



2 On looking through the modern school of angling authors, I find the 

 following recommendations and instructions on the subject of worm fishing for 

 trout : Bowlker, in his Art of Angling, recommends a single No. 5 or No. 6 

 hook ; Mr. Stoddart advises, in his Angler s Companion, single hooks, sizes 

 Nos. 10, ii, or 12, according to the dimensions of the stream, its condition, 

 and the kind of trout inhabiting it ; Mr. Bailey, in his Angler's Instructor, 

 suggests a single No. 7; Otter's Alodern Angler, a No. 5; ' Glenfin ' (The 

 Fishing Rod, and how to use it), a 6 or 7 ; 'Ephemera,' Hewett Wheatley, 

 and some other authors either simply recommend 'a single hook,' without 



