498 PRACTICAI LESSONS IN THE GENTLE CRAFT. 



cramped, and one puts the rod down tired, perhaps, of 

 a long spell with no signs of a fish and carelessly, of 

 course, with the handle of the winch on the grass ; then, just 

 as one is putting the vesuvian into the bowl of one's pipe, 

 comes a tug at the top joint ; one goes with a dash at 

 the rod, and waits eagerly for the expected pull. No go ; 

 the golden moment is gone, and the chance of a golden 

 prize into the bargain. The finer the running line the 

 better, consistent with the proper degree of strength that 

 is required, supposing a " bonser '"' is hooked. When baiting 

 with paste or gentles, triangle hooks, not too large, should 

 be used, and the lead, having the hole through it well 

 bored out, so that the line runs very easily, should work on 

 the silk running line or better still a very fine piece of gimp, 

 in preference to the gut bottom, so that friction of the gut is 

 avoided, as well as any possible obstruction from a 

 knot. Carp will sometimes take worms freely ; large red 

 worms, thoroughly cleansed and toughened in moss, being 

 almost a standing dish, and a bright silver lob is another 

 very attractive bait. Wasp grubs, and the larvae of the 

 insect in an immature state, are another killing lure. I 

 have taken them with green peas, and I have heard of 

 them taking cherries ; but of all the baits that I have ever 

 tried, commend me to- a yellow waxy potato, fairly well 

 boiled, but not so as to be too soft of course, and with a 

 plentiful ground-baiting of the hole where one intends 

 operating, for a day or two previously, with boiled potatoes 

 and bran, well kneaded and worked up, so that when 

 formed into balls about the size of a billiard ball, they sink 

 at once. The potato should be cut into an oval shape, 

 of the size of a thrush's egg, the gut drawn through its 

 centre by means of a fine baiting needle, and the points of 

 the triangle pushed into the bait until they are fairly 



