214 NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Of various sizes How angled for. 



ther up than in the decline of the year ; they are 

 also to be met with in the docks that are opened 

 for the reception of ships. The smelt is of a 

 very beautiful form and color, the head is trans- 

 parent, and the skin in general so thin, that with a 

 good microscope the circulation of its blood may 

 be seen." 



These fish vary greatly in size; the largest 

 Mr. Pennant ever heard of was thirteen inches 

 long, and weighed half a pound. 



We are told by Walton, that some'years ago, 

 in the month of August, such vast quantities of 

 smelts came up the Thames, that women and 

 children became anglers for them ; and that in 

 one day, between London Bridge and Green- 

 wich, no fewer than two thousand persons were 

 thus employed. 



The smelt is to be angled for (when the tide 

 runs up is preferable) with a paternoster line, 

 having five or six hooks so many inches from 

 each other, and baited differently. The best baits 

 are very small shrimps not boiled, or the tail of a 

 boiled one ; next to these are gentles and red 

 paste ; also that made of boiled shrimps, fine 

 white bread, and a little honey, cadis, blood- 

 worms; and they will sometimes take a bit of 

 their own species. Some crumbs of bread 

 should now and then be thrown in to keep 

 them together. 



