THE ART OF FISHING. 43 



Baits are preserved in various ways Angle ^^orms can be retained 

 fresh and active by packing them in an earthen j^ot with common 

 moss. The moss should first be washed in clean water and pressed 

 almost dry Every three or four days the washing must be repeated, 

 by which process the worms may be kept iu excellent condition for 

 as Jong a time as desired. 



SALMON and TROUT ROE are tempting baits for many other 

 fresh water fish besides the trout. Old fishermen preserve it as follows 

 Ijrst put it m warm water, not hot enough to scald much— then 

 separate the membranous films— rinse it well in cold water and hang 

 It up to dry The next day salt it with two ounces of salt and a 

 quarter of an ounce of saltpetre to the pound of roe. Let it stand 

 another day and then spread it to dry. When it becomes stiff jDut 

 it in small pots, pouring over each some melted mutton tallow. You 

 can then use a pot of preparation as you may want it for bait. It is 

 excellent; for almost any fry in fresh water. 



' PASTE BAITS are made as follows: Shrimp paste is made from 

 shrimps., being prepared in every respect similar to the salmon-roe, 

 Defore given. Wheat, rye, barley and other grains, soaked in water 

 and then boiled in milk, are good baits for small fish in still water 

 Soft bread and honey, kneaded together, is also good. Grated 

 cheese worked into paste with soft bread, honey, and saffron, is fre- 

 quently used. 



The PIKE or PICKEREL is fond of shady places, and in summer 

 he frequents the parts of the stream nearest where the pickerel weed 

 srrows. Pickerel generally spawn in March or April. In winter they 

 get under rocks, or stumps, or into convenient deep holes, and they 

 can be taken then with small live fish bait. In rivers you can gen 

 erally catch jjickerel near the mouth of some small stream empty ing 

 into the river , the fall of the year is the best time for catching 

 them. In the hot summer months they seldom bite at all, except, 

 perhaps, on a very wmdy day. In the fall, too, they are in better 

 condition In the more northern waters they are sometimes taken 

 as early as August. 



The tackle generally used for pickerel, is a stiff ten foot rod, with a 

 reel and some 50 oi 60 yards of flax line, which should be protected 

 near the hook with gimp or wire The Limerick or Kirby salmon 

 hook IS used. The size is to 5, according to the size of the fish. 

 Iu a running stream, both the sinker and float will be found neces- 

 sary . The bait should be a small live fish, or frog, or the hind leg 



