149 



nacre bait over him, and he took it at once, the next moment 

 breaking me in a stout weed-bed, where, for aught I know, the 

 bait is lying to this day. This was my first and last cast. Still, 

 as I have never seen another artificial bait equally accurate in its 

 resemblance to the fish it was intended to represent, this solitary 

 experience with a bait designed on the " exact imitation theory," 

 may not be altogether unsuggestive or without interest. 



BAIT CANS. 



The carrying of all baits alive, wherever possible, is of im- 

 portance even to the spinner and troller, and to the " live-bait " 

 fisher it is hardly necessary to say it is a matter of some import- 

 ance. Not many years ago an ordinary tin pot, or kettle, smaller 

 at the top than at the bottom, was the best article our tackle 

 makers could produce for this purpose; then we had zinc 

 receptacles of an oblong shape, thus, 



which, at least, gave the inmates more room " for life to gasp ; " 

 and later some ingenious person hit upon a can with removable 

 perforated inside, by which means trouble and time were saved to 

 the fisher, and unnecessary poking and prodding about to the 

 baits. 



This was a step in the right direction, but something was yet 

 lacking. Fish cannot ' breathe ' in water which has become de- 



