A SEASIDE YARN. 47 



be found in tolerably skilful hands as destructive an 

 engine as can be well devised. In iising it the great 

 point is never to let the line slacken indeed the point 

 of the rod should always be kept a little bent by the 

 strain on the lead. When fish of moderate size are 

 hooked, the line should not be reeled up but drawn 

 in from below the first ring above the winch by the 

 hand, keeping the rod well up. The weight of the 

 sinker must be proportioned to the current of the 

 stream and depth of tide running, and different depths 

 should be tried if the fish cease biting as the tide 

 rises. " Chop-stick lines" are also used for boat 

 fishing. 



Without any comparison, the best bait for all 

 small fish, as generally fished for on our coasts, is, in 

 my opinion, the mud-worm (Syllis monilaris). These 

 should be kept in water-tight wooden boxes, lined 

 with pitch, which may be easily run into the seams 

 with a hot iron. The ordinary puzzle-box shape is 

 best, and the sliding cover must have a few small 

 air-holes made in it. Clean sea-water, just sufficient 

 to cover the worms, should be poured into the box 

 every day, after thoroughly cleansing it, and removing 

 every dead and injured worm. A little bit of wood 

 nailed under one end of the box, so as to raise it 

 about an inch, will be found advantageous, as it will 

 keep the water always at one end, and enable the 

 worms to crawl high and dry if they think proper, 



