BOTTOM FISHING. 55 



hard, as then it retains its enamelled surface entire. Had 

 this been done a quarter of a century or so ago, the neces- 

 sity for our oft- repeated researches would not have exist- 

 ed. To assert that hair of any description is equal to 

 even gut of equal thickness, is absurd. The former is 

 not only weak, being hollow, but is given to stretch when 

 strained, and is very susceptible to breaking at knots. It 

 magnifies greatly in the water, and, lastly, absorbs the 

 wet, and swells. On the other hand very little can be 

 urged in regard to the use of the gut that is detrimental. 

 It can now be obtained one-third the thickness of hair, 

 each strand being far superior in point of strength, and 

 when slightly stained the color of the water where it is 

 intended to be used, it is as near being invisible as any- 

 thing ever discovered, Hair effectually superseded the 

 Indian weed, and silk-worm gut will eventually supersede 

 hair quite as effectually. 



To return to our subject. Gentles, pastes, boiled grain, 

 cad or straw bait, and small red worms are most worthy 

 the angler's attention as baits. It is necessary to bait 

 moderately the swim fixed upon the evening previous. 

 We emphasize moderately, because it is the custom to 

 sink so much food for the fish under the appellation of 

 ground-bait, that by the time the expectant rodster 

 "turns up" the whole school will have gorged them- 

 selves and dispersed to more secluded nooks to doze off 

 the effects; hence it is the enterprising angler so fre- 

 quently meets with scant sport. This is often attributed 

 to the influence of passing electricity, whether in the 

 earth, or atmosphere, or may be both; failing this, and a 

 thousand and one other abstruse reasons, the weary angler 

 can always comfort himself and explain to his friends and 

 neighbors that as there was scarcely anything in the swim 

 in question, it followed in the natural course of things 

 that little could be hauled out of it. After baiting judi- 

 ciously overnight, the fish will have congregated upon 



