IRISH LOACH-TROLLING. 21 



a link of clear, clean gut. As a general rule, the 

 limit of his taste in this respect does not exceed 

 baits of three or perhaps four inches. He must be 

 hard up for a dinner if he goes beyond these dimen- 

 sions. To be sure it has been stated what indeed 

 of fishes has not ? that, like the pike, he attacks 

 prey of a considerable size. Possibly this may be 

 so. There are cannibals amongst our own species w T ho 

 will finish a missionary at a meal ; but these are 

 fortunately exceptions to the general tastes of hu- 

 manity. I have trolled with pike-tackle and larger 

 baits, how often I know not ; but never, in any 

 instance, did ferox favour me with a call while 

 engaged in this kind of work in the waters which he 

 inhabits. Of his feeding on small shells and larvae, 

 which are to be found in large quantities on the 

 bottom of lakes, the evidence, though inferential, 

 assumes a look of certainty, on examining the con- 

 tents of his stomach. The debris of these semi- 

 digested creatures is there to be seen and felt 

 clearly enough. Amongst the mass are traces of 

 apparently green vegetable matter ; but whether 

 these are the remains of a salad of aquatic herbs is 

 problematic. 



The dietetic tastes of our subject being thus dis- 

 posed of, so far as I have observed, the selection of 

 the best bait, and the mode of using it, follow in 

 order. Of those which I have stated, the loach will 



